Optimizing urban density: developer positions on densification in two mid-sized cities

Payton Nicol and Jeffrey Biggar

Planning Practice & Research, 2025, vol. 40, issue 2, 306-325

Abstract: This paper examines developer positions on urban densification in two mid-sized Canadian cities: Halifax, Nova Scotia, and Victoria, British Columbia. A mixed-methods approach was used to investigate developers’ motivations and attitudes towards densification in both cities. The findings indicate that under zoned land, high regulation, and insufficient incentives impede the transition towards higher-density development. The paper suggests that regulatory flexibility and increased administrative capacity for planning are crucial measures to address procedural challenges that limit denser development. It illustrates how the development industry influences density-promoting policies in mid-sized cities, offerings insights for planning to untangle the misalignment between land use policy and practice.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/02697459.2024.2431768

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