The Metz (Schneiders site redevelopment)

[westwardloo]

I hate that we allow 1 developer to buy up a piece of land this big

A private property owner selling land to another private property owner, there really aren't any restrictions that a government can apply.

I know this, but I don't like it, I don't like the way we plan subdivision either. I think the city should have more control over planning property, similar to what it was like in the early 1900's. Cities should be the ones that already have a planned the right of ways, parcels and zoning of all any property prior to it being sold to developers. If the private property owner still wants to sell it to one company so be it, but at least the city is the one that controls the layout of the development. 

Look at the street systems of neighbourhoods prior to 1960 vs our currently system. Now, every subdivision is separated by company, with little to no connection other than major arterial roads, mostly because they want to squeeze in an extra lot every place they can so rarely do they leave right of ways to be accessed by the neighbouring subdivision.  Cities used to have master plans that would layout roads, parks, schools, medical facilities, Etc. Now we just use zoning and have private companies decide how our cities should be built (Cul-de-Sac's and plaza's).