Calgary council turns down plebiscite for proposed blanket rezoning

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Calgarians received’t be given the chance to vote within the subsequent municipal election on town’s blanket rezoning proposal, metropolis councillors selected Wednesday afternoon.

Throughout a particular assembly Wednesday, council voted 8-6 to disclaim a movement to ship its proposed new zoning coverage to a plebiscite, which might’ve seen the matter added to ballots in the course of the 2025 municipal election. Mayor Jyoti Gondek known as the particular assembly after a evaluation of the plebiscite proposal Tuesday.

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The town is proposing to vary its base residential zoning district to Residential Grade-Oriented infill (RC-G) in a bid to spice up housing density in neighbourhoods at present zoned for single-family housing. The change is predicated on the suggestions of the housing technique council accepted in September.

The RC-G district would permit owners to develop medium-density housing like duplexes and row housing with out first making use of to town for a land use change.

With the plebiscite turned down, the problem will go to a public listening to subsequent month as initially deliberate.

Coun. Dan McLean launched the discover of movement earlier this month with the backing of councillors Sonya Sharp, Terry Wong, Andre Chabot, Sean Chu and Peter Demong — the identical six who voted in favour of the plebiscite Wednesday. McLean pointed to different key points that have been put to plebiscites in Calgary just like the turned-down 2026 Olympic bid and the profitable vote so as to add fluoride again to town’s faucet water.

“I imagine this to be much more consequential because it does have an effect on each single Calgarian,” mentioned McLean in the course of the assembly. “And bear in mind, not a single member of council ran on the blanket rezoning on this final election. I imagine we want a mandate from the folks to do what’s proposed.”

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The outcomes of the plebiscite wouldn’t have been binding and would have nonetheless required a public listening to.

Councillors in favour of the plebiscite argued {that a} blanket rezoning would nix the flexibility to carry public hearings on particular person properties for land use modifications sooner or later.

“Each time we hear a land use redesignation utility, we hear from neighborhood members with actual issues in regards to the impact these new purposes can have on their neighbourhood and their lives,” mentioned Coun. Sharp. “They get to talk instantly and unfiltered to the folks they elected to make these selections on these purposes on their behalf … what’s being proposed would take away that chance.

“This blanket rezoning isn’t only a vital change on how we develop, however a major change for the method we use to get there and the way we see folks take part in it.”

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Public listening to to be held April 22

Mayor Jyoti Gondek and another council members who voted in opposition to placing the matter to a vote likened a plebiscite to “kicking the can down the street.” The councillors mentioned subsequent month’s public listening to will give the general public the chance to precise their views and the “why” behind it — slightly than the easy sure or no {that a} plebiscite would supply.

“We imagine that the general public must be heard from. The general public has been suggested that April 22 is the date of the general public listening to,” mentioned Gondek, noting that town has spent virtually $1 million on partaking the general public forward of that assembly. “We have now cleared the week in order that as many individuals that wish to come out and weigh in can completely accomplish that.”

Coun. Wong proposed an modification to postpone the general public listening to to June, however it was defeated by an 11-3 vote. He mentioned regardless of metropolis engagement there’s nonetheless a lack of information among the many public in regards to the situation.

“I need them to listen to the information. I wish to hear the implementation. I need them to listen to the ramifications and the impacts of this,” mentioned Wong.

Critics of the proposed zoning coverage have acknowledged the change would alter the character of present neighbourhoods and result in over-development, whereas proponents have claimed it can restrict suburban sprawl and enhance housing affordability.

Massive attendance is anticipated for subsequent month’s public hearings, with councillors having obtained a whole bunch of emails on the subject.

mrodriguez@postmedia.com

X: @MichaelRdrguez

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