City Council Votes 9-6 to Adopt Blanket Re-zoning

April 22 - May 6, 2024

On May 14, 2024, City Council voted 9 to 6 in favour of Blanket Rezoning;  After just two days of debate and questions, City Council voted to adopt a slightly modified Blanket Rezoning bylaw for Calgary, representing the biggest change to the City's planning policies in decades.  Council's decision goes against the wishes of the vast majority of Calgarians who participated in the Public Hearing.  Undoubtedly this will pave the way for this to become part of a hotly contested municipal election in 2025.

May 9, 2024 - City Council provided with summary report of Public Hearing marathon:  On Thursday, May 9, 2024, Tim Keane, the City's new Chief Planner presented City Administration's misleading "What we heard report" to City Council, in part summarizing results from public feedback over a 12 day period.  

On May 6, 2024, Calgary's Public Hearing into Blanket Rezoning Ended:  The City of Calgary concluded its longest ever Public Hearing on May 6, 2024, with 736 people presenting their position to City Council over a 12 day marathon session that commenced on April 22nd, 2024.  

Next steps are that Council will reconvene at its next meeting on Tuesday, May 13, to ask questions, propose amendments, debate, and finally vote on whether the City of Calgary will adopt blanket rezoning.

On April 22, 2024, City Council will hold a Public Hearing  when City Administration staff will present and recommend City Council approve and adopt the most significant new planning policy in decades:  city-wide blanket rezoning.  City Council is obligated to hear and read all submissions from the public regarding this matter, which we understand could take several days.  Afterwards, City Council will vote whether or not to adopt blanket rezoning across Calgary. 

Notice of Motion (NOM) for a Plebiscite Defeated:  Many Calgarians remain highly disappointed that on March 13, 2024, City Council voted 8 to 6 against Councillor Dan MacLean's NOM for a plebiscite on blanket rezoning.   Had Councillor MacLean's NOM passed, a plebiscite on blanket rezoning would have been held as part of the next civic election in 2025.  Now, just 15 Councillors will decide on behalf of 1.4 million Calgarians whether or not Calgary will adopt blanket rezoning.  It is the view of the VRCRG that this process is entirely undemocratic.

It is indeed unfortunate that the Valley Ridge Community Association has not clearly articulated their position on blanket rezoning.  They've never hosted a community meeting nor published any updates on their website or news article in the community newsletter, the Valley Breeze.  Blanket Rezoning has been front and centre for residents over the winter with numerous residents seeking awareness and further clarification on details about important zoning change.

R-CG accommodates 4 main units and 4 secondary suites on an average 50 foot wide lot.  This would become an allowed use on all lots in the City and would eliminate public hearings to rezone from RC-1 (single family home) and RC-2 (semi-detached home) to R-CG.

The VRCRG opposes city-wide rezoning.  

Blanket rezoning or "up-zoning", represents the most significant shift in Calgary’s planning policy in decades.  Sadly, Calgary's City Council voted in favor of blanket rezoning, going against the wishes of the vast majority of Calgarians who clearly opposed this radical change in planning policy.  It is highly likely this will become a high profile election issue during the 2025 municipal election. 

The rationale for our position is provided in our May 3, 2024 letter to Councillor Sharp, cc'd to City Councillors, and in this earlier March 1, 2024,  document posted on NextDoor. Negative outcomes from density increases due to city-wide zoning will include: a loss of neighborhood character, increased on-street parking, and a loss in property value and privacy for adjacent property owners due to an associated increase in lot coverage of up to 60% to name just a few. 

We urge Valley Ridge residents to visit the City's rezoning website to read more details. In our view, Valley Ridge will not be immune to the impact of blanket rezoning.  Now that it is approved, the zoning rules and guidelines your home purchase decision were based have changed. 

In September 2023, 11 community associations across Calgary expressed their opposition to city-wide rezoning by co-writing an article in the Calgary Herald.  These and other community associations have been engaged in creating community awareness, providing insights and information  for their residents regarding the potential impacts of this policy prior to a Public Hearing of City Council scheduled for April 22nd, 2024.