It’s a familiar scene in many suburban neighbourhoods: a development notice appears, typically on an older property. Like clockwork, pushback starts, with a laundry list of resident concerns about the potential for more traffic, more noise and less privacy, and a change to the area’s character. These worries come from a genuine desire to protect the community we love, but it’s not always that simple. It’s worth pausing to view these same changes through a different lens.
What if the very things we think we fear—more people (and, in theory, more cars), more noise and traffic, new styles and types of homes (that look so different and don’t fit in)—are actually the key ingredients for creating a more vibrant, resilient, and connected neighbourhood? This post is an invitation to reframe the conversation: to see “more traffic” as a sign we need more walkable local shops, “more noise” as the sound of a living community, and a “changing character” as an evolution towards a place that can welcome our children and support our local businesses for years to come.
The Myth of More Traffic
A frequent claim when new developments are proposed is that new, denser housing will lead to more parked cars and more traffic. As the founder of LessCar.ca, you’d think I would be lining up to make this argument. Many suburban parents already spend enough time in local traffic commuting and shuttling kids to school and extra-curricular activities. The idea of adding more cars to that mix is understandably concerning.
BUT this view presumes that the only way to get around is and will forever be exclusively by car, which currently is only true because our neighbourhoods lack transportation options and nearby destinations. Most new developments are planned alongside adding walkability and other transportation options in our communities as well, options that take up far less space per person than private vehicles. Adding more housing in our communities via infill development also helps to grow the customer base needed for a corner store or a small café to open just down the street. These incremental changes won’t lead to more traffic; it will allow current and new residents more freedom for us and especially our kids to gain independence, letting us spend less time behind the wheel.
The Myth of Added Noise
Another concern is that more people will inevitably mean more noise. Many people choose the suburbs for peace and quiet, and that’s a value worth protecting. Nobody wants a loud, disruptive neighbour, whether you live in a single-family home or an apartment or condo complex.
BUT it’s important to distinguish between possible sources of noise when it comes to development. The pleasant hum of a lively community where lots of people are chatting and spending time outside probably isn’t what most of us are worried about. The biggest source of noise on my street by far is from the cars (I live about 1 km from the 174, I can hear that just fine from my driveway too). A neighbourhood where more people can walk to their destinations is going to be a quieter one. The sound of kids playing or the distant chatter from a local shop isn’t a nuisance; it’s the sound of a community that’s alive and safe.
The Myth of Lost Privacy and Sunlight
Concerns about a loss of privacy or sunlight are deeply personal. We see our homes and backyards as a private sanctuary. However, these fears are often based on the assumption that “density” means a tall apartment building suddenly going up next door.
BUT, the kind of “gentle density” our neighbourhoods desperately need really just involves allowing a bungalow to be replaced by a small, 3-story apartment building, or a single home to add a coach house in the backyard. Nobody wants to live in the shadow of a massive new building next door, but that’s almost never what’s actually being proposed.
Too often, I hear complaints about new neighbours being able to see into my backyard. Right now, in my yard, at least 5 nearby houses have windows that can see into my backyard, and it’s totally fine. If we’re being honest, my biggest gripe about my backyard is that between the 2 fences and 2 very tall hedges, it makes it almost impossible to chat with or even meet many of my neighbours, even if this is something we’re both trying to do. Tight-knit communities with residents who know each other are a critical part of a vibrant community, a facet that is sorely lacking in much of Orleans today.
The Myth of Lower Property Values
Another common fear is that new development will “lower my property value.” The opposite is often true. Walkable neighbourhoods with a mix of housing options and nearby amenities are increasingly in demand, and that’s only going to become truer with time.
The real threat to the long-term value of our property is a municipality teetering on financial insolvency because its tax base is too small to maintain its infrastructure. Adding a duplex or a small apartment building is a productive use of land; it increases land use efficiency by generating more tax revenue from the same plot with minimal extra impact on city services. A fiscally healthy and safe, walkable neighbourhood is the best protector of our property values.
The Myth of “Neighbourhood Character”
Perhaps the most purely subjective and emotional argument I hear almost every time this comes up is that new housing doesn’t fit with the “character of our neighbourhood.” The story goes that if every house in a community looks pretty much the same, any new things built here should also look and be the same too.
BUT the character of a neighbourhood is not well defined if you’re just considering how similar all the buildings look. A neighbourhood that can’t ever be allowed to evolve risks losing its character altogether and becoming stagnant. Diversifying the kinds of housing in the area, and legalizing low-impact commercial shops and businesses can only help a community become stronger. Focusing on how a new house built today won’t look exactly the same as the existing ones around it totally misses the fact that houses built in the 80s (like mine) are built in a completely different way, from different materials, than the ones built today.
We should be able and eager to welcome more new residents of all ages: families, young students and professionals, and retirees looking for less house to maintain. We would all love for our kids to be able to afford an apartment or new home nearby, or let our parents downsize without leaving their friends and family. Adding “gentle density” allows our community to adapt, ensuring it remains a vibrant and desirable place for generations to come. That is a neighbourhood character worth striving for.
The Critical Case for Density
The case for density is not just about countering arguments; it’s about recognizing its critical importance. Financially, our low-density, sprawling development pattern is an outdated model where the property taxes from single-family homes do not cover the long-term cost of the infrastructure they need to connect to the city.
Socially, this suburban development model fosters an isolation that you start to feel daily once you notice it. By contrast, denser communities create a safer, more social environment where the casual, spontaneous interactions that build real community can finally happen.
Choosing a Resilient Future
Opposing new neighbours is, in effect, advocating for a path into the future that looks a lot like now: higher taxes and declining services for everyone. It’s time to look beyond the immediate fear of a new building, even one that doesn’t suit your fashion taste. Remember, nobody is forcing you to live there.
Consider the long-term benefits of a more walkable, connected, and financially resilient community. Supporting this kind of development isn’t about sacrificing our neighbourhood; it’s a positive investment in the future of Orléans.
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