Clarington population is projected to increase 50 per cent by 2035, according to Mayor Adrian Foster.
“For Clarington growth projections we are looking at 2035. They are optimistic for roughly a 50 per cent increase in population, probably more than what we will actually see,” he said in an interview with Durham Post.
In regional planning, one has to overestimate the population because that comes into development charges. If we underestimate, we run the risk of underfunding, he added.
Clarington had a population of 101,427 in the 2021 census by Statistics Canada.
Clarington has the room to grow, Mayor Foster said.
“With population come jobs. Density of population supports diversity. I would hope to see the densities in the existing centres, sort of what we’re planning now near transit, near schools. Some of the urban boundary expansions will be more along the lines of the townhouses and singles,” he said.
Can’t build half of a tower
With regard to density, Mayor Foster said: “In south Courtice near the GO train station, if I can put significant density there where nobody exists, it reduces the need to put density elsewhere”.
He said some of the industry is suggesting that the market doesn’t exist for high rises in Clarington, but “I’ve got other players saying it does. So again, I would look around the GO train station at a potential for a 24-building – and I’m just picking a random number obviously – but you got a view of Lake Ontario, a view of the Oak Ridges Moraine, you’ve got access to the 418, GO train, the 401 and a 20-minute walk to a waterfront park”.
Right now, the maximum height Clarington allows in its official plan is 12-storeys.
Mayor Foster told of a developer who was desperate to build a three-form structure number of years back. He came to the office a couple of years ago, desperate to go to 25 on the same property. The market changed so very quickly. It is all market driven.
He said the other issue is finances are difficult for building anything high rise. “You can build half of a subdivision, but you can’t build half of a tower”.
32% drop in residential permits
Asked why have residential permits dropped by a whopping 32 per cent, Mayor Foster explained the municipality does not issue permits until the builder applies. “One of the allegations – and I’m using that word on purpose – for limited housing supply, is that some developers are sitting on property where units have been approved but developers haven’t asked for the permits. We do have a couple of larger projects here where things are ready to go and the developers have not come for permits”.
He said such projects these tend to be higher density high-rise, and financing high-density high-rise is difficult.
Mayor Foster pointed out that one of the issues is Durham is one of the fastest growing regions since 2017, and Clarington has been the fastest growing municipality within Durham region.
“We’ve got an incredible amount of growth, our staff are just swamped, and we can’t hire. We have posted positions and I have literally no applications. I understand there were 40 positions in Durham region open for planners. In the private sector, you can make far more money than we can offer,” he pointed out.
“We are having challenges,” he added.
Read ‘Durham negotiating for free land in Courtice‘ and other excerpts from the full interview tomorrow
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