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A set of new housing density targets passed Thursday at the Capital Region Board won’t affect most municipalities for at least 30 years.

Despite that, the mayors were unwilling to accept tougher targets.

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They voted 16-8 against a plan that would have pushed a majority of municipalities to adopt a density proposal that planners say makes transit economically viable.

Instead, they compromised and adopted lower targets some still described as a “stretch.”

The targets are tougher than the status quo, but doesn’t affect anything already planned, not even Bremner, the mayors heard Thursday. Bremner is a new development in Strathcona County that would double the size of Sherwood Park.

“You’re not looking far enough into the future,” said Stony Plain Mayor William Choy, as he urged the mayors to show leadership and support the higher densities.

“To sit around the table and say we’re not going to do it because it doesn’t meet the needs right now, then you shouldn’t be here.”