Single-family house prices in Calgary will skyrocket if the city's controversial long-range plan is approved by council, warns a city home-builder.

Jay Westman, owner of Jayman Masterbuilt, spoke before council yesterday in opposition of the city's development management and transportation plan.

"If this plan gets approved the way it's submitted right now, I believe that home prices will move up to $50,000 to $100,000 in single-family homes just about overnight," Westman said.

"If there's a perceived shortage that we're going to have, that we cannot build, say, single-family homes, right away the land prices will stay up or move higher than what the market says it should do," he said.

His main beef with the plan is that it's too prescriptive and calls for an unrealistic 70% multi-family housing and 30% single family, in an attempt to prevent sprawl.

"If they say we have to do one thing and can't do other things, this affects supply and demand," said Westman, whose company has been building homes here for three decades.

Ald. Joe Connelly said the answer lies in the balance between opposing ideas and that's the challenge the council faces as they move to approve the plan.

"Our job is to find the right path to take Calgary forward," he said.

The hearing is expected to wrap up tomorrow.