Brany Nielson`s Site

Urban sprawl is a growing concern for most cities in Canada and the reason is quite simply geography. We have the space to just keep expanding housing developments without seeing a real need to go up rather that out. Inexpensive homes in a subdivision are still quite sought after especially with families. All of this expansion though comes at the expense of shrinking farmland.

In order to build new houses you need land and more often then not this means rezoning existing farmland in order to fill the demand in the real estate market. The problem is that consumers suffer in the form of higher food prices and produce has to be trucked in from further and further away. But those who have a say in Markham real estate are trying to make a difference by taking a bold step.

Many cities and provinces already try to protect nature by creating green belts. These are areas in which homes cannot be built and no development can take place. Markham is taking the same approach and creating food belts. These areas would be designated as farmland and make it virtually impossible to change the zoning for real estate development.

This will do a great deal to ensure that food can still be grown close to home and help to promote a “grown locally” movement that is being promoted not only in Canada but also across North America. While developers may not be happy with these new rules most Markham residents see it as a necessary step for the future of all.