Calgary rezoning debate: What's at stake?
A marathon meeting over proposed blanket rezoning in Calgary continued Tuesday in front of a noticeably smaller crowd at city hall.
A day after long, twisting lineups and duelling protests took over city hall, council chambers were sparsely attended and overflow seating was almost entirely empty.
Public hearing panels are still taking place and more than 600 speakers have yet to have their say.
At issue is a debate over whether to transition properties zoned as R-C1 districts, which currently allow only single-detached homes on them, to R-CG to open the door for more housing density in Calgary communities.
"We will see more development happen (if proposed changes are approved)," said Ryan Cairns, a residential designer with Ellergodt Design.
"Development is already happening, but we're not going to see six-storey or 70-unit or massive buildings in single-family neighborhoods," he said.
The city says 67 per cent of residential properties are currently zoned exclusively for single-detached homes.
Blanket rezoning to R-CG still permits single-detached homes on those properties, but also allows for semi-detached homes, such as townhomes and row homes.
"It may mean a duplex or a triplex or a fourplex nearby," Cairns explained.
R-CG districts allow development up to 11 metres in height and each project would still have to go through the development permit process before being approved.
"We're capped with maximum building height, we're capped with density, we have side setbacks, front setbacks, rear setback -- this still restricts what we're able to do on a lot," Cairns said.
The vast majority of feedback to council so far has been against proposed blanket rezoning.
Concerns from many speakers centre around the impact rezoning and higher-density development could have on property values, community character and parking.
"The other thing to remember is we are talking about providing more supply of housing," said Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
"If you're able to provide a greater supply, it eases the demand," she said Tuesday.
The federal government granted Calgary $228 million through its Housing Accelerator Fund after the city passed its housing strategy.
Ministers say the money won't be pulled if the proposed zoning changes don't pass.
"The (housing) minister has been clear on this. I've been clear on this. We're not talking about any threats to funding right now," said Randy Boissonnault, the federal minister of employment and workforce development.
He added Ottawa will watch "democracy unfold" as Calgary holds its lengthy public hearings and debate over rezoning.
"But we do want to see the gentle density along trade corridors. We want to see the ability for people to live and work and play where they want to," he said.
Calgary's public hearings will run every day this week from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. and people can sign up to speak in-person or online until the hearing is closed.
As of Tuesday evening, about 130 panels of five people each are still yet to be heard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Aviation experts say Russia's air defence fire likely caused Azerbaijan plane crash as nation mourns
Aviation experts said Thursday that Russian air defence fire was likely responsible for the Azerbaijani plane crash the day before that killed 38 people and left all 29 survivors injured.
Police identify victim of Christmas Day homicide in Hintonburg, charge suspect
The Ottawa Police Service says the victim who had been killed on Christmas Day in Hintonburg has been identified.
Teen actor Hudson Meek, who appeared in 'Baby Driver,' dies after falling from moving vehicle
Hudson Meek, the 16-year-old actor who appeared in 'Baby Driver,' died last week after falling from a moving vehicle in Vestavia Hills, Alabama, according to CNN affiliate WVTM.
Boxing Day in Canada: Small retailers fear big shopping day won't make up for tough year
It’s one of the busiest shopping days of the year: Boxing Day sees thousands of people head to malls and big box stores to find great deals. But it's not so simple for smaller shops.
Raised in Sask. after his family fled Hungary, this man spent decades spying on communists for the RCMP
As a Communist Party member in Calgary in the early 1940s, Frank Hadesbeck performed clerical work at the party office, printed leaflets and sold books.
Sinkhole prompts lane closures on Interstate 80 in New Jersey
A sinkhole that opened up Thursday along Interstate 80 in northern New Jersey forced authorities to close the heavily travelled highway's eastbound lanes.
Police in New Brunswick investigating Christmas Eve sudden death
An unconscious individual was found in the 600-block area of Lancaster Avenue early Christmas Eve morning, and was later pronounced dead at a hospital.
Spending the holiday season alone this year? How to make the most of it
Spending the holidays alone can feel lonely or empty, but it doesn't have to be that way.
Finland stops Russia-linked vessel over damaged undersea power cable in Baltic Sea
Finnish authorities detained a ship linked to neighboring Russia as they investigate whether it damaged a Baltic Sea power cable and several data cables, police said, in the latest incident involving disruption of key infrastructure.