Calgary city council has approved changes to local zoning laws, including the creation of a new zoning category for higher-density developments, following two days of public comment and hours of discussion.
Couns. Sean Chu, Sonya Sharp, Andre Chabot, Terry Wong, Richard Pootmans, and Dan McLean were the only council members to vote against the amendments, which passed 9–6.
The zoning regulations have changed, allowing for increased development, or what is known as the “missing middle.”
” Townhomes, rowhouses, low-rise apartments, and semi-detached dwellings are among the medium-density constructions.
Council members changed a few small things, such raising the minimum number of parking spaces per unit from 0.375 to 0.5.
“It’s critical that people be able to develop and mature in place. It’s crucial, according to Ward 3 Councilwoman Jasmine Mian, because I believe the development authority should support housing choice in our community.
A total of 73 Calgarians spoke during the lengthy public hearing, both in favour of and against the motion, before council on Wednesday late in the afternoon.
Inner-city residents, elders, young individuals hoping to buy a home, and representatives from the development business were among the speakers.
The zoning regulations, according to University Heights resident Flora Gillespie, were “in no way” relevant to the existing houses and duplexes in the city’s established neighbourhoods.
She continued by saying she favoured giving residents more assurance.
“The construction sector may purchase a property next to private lands; my home, or someone else’s home. We must work together to determine exactly what will happen there, Gillespie told Global News. “The only thing the building industry and I are actually looking for is clarity,” said the requestor.
Parking regulations, neighbourhood character, and a lack of public consultation were among the issues highlighted by residents.
The local administration said that when making the zoning amendments, it had exclusively engaged with professionals in the development industry.
Lisa Poole raised it as a concern and opposed the new zoning category in her speech.
Poole informed council that he was “very disappointed” at the lack of readiness to collaborate with locals. It’s comparable to planning to build a new hen coop but only consulting the fox. The chickens could appreciate some advice.
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According to those who supported the zoning changes, there wouldn’t be a general re-zoning of established neighbourhoods and additional housing options would be made available, improving affordability.
Nobody will have it shoved down their throat, It’s just another tool, according to Calgary Inner-City Builders Association member Mike Borkristl.
In the city centre and inner-city neighbourhoods, the new zoning category known as Housing – Grade Oriented, or H-GO, is permitted with certain distance requirements from important roadways, LRT stations, and other transit facilities.
The city estimates that 86% of Calgary’s established neighbourhoods have suffered a fall in population since their peak. A local assessment listed the absence of amenities and housing options as contributing causes to the statistic.
According to Renfrew resident David Barrett, “I think council can solve this in part by offering these missing medium, gentle density… to try and draw diverse populations that aren’t seeing themselves reflected in those neighbourhoods today.”
The debate on Wednesday, according to Ward 8 Coun. Courtney Walcott, was just about the establishment of a new zoning district. She added that there will be other opportunities to discuss its application in the future.
“The rules tell us where they can go, but we can only start to have nuanced talks about neighbourhood context and character only after someone buys the land and starts to rezone it,” Walcott said. A strong engagement process will be used.
In essence, property owners will still need to submit individual rezoning applications to council for approval.
A resolution from Sharp, who represents Ward 1, was also accepted by city council and instructs administration to create a communications strategy for the zoning amendments that were agreed upon by council.
Following concerns raised by residents, her proposal also urges administration to submit a report on its methods for public participation for a subsequent council meeting.
With a few modifications, Calgary City Council accepts “missing middle” zoning.
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