CALGARY — The public hearing on blanket rezoning will pause Thursday at 6 p.m., returning Tuesday (April 7) at 9:30 a.m.
The City of Calgary is still accepting applications to speak at the public hearing or written submissions. Information on submitting is here.
Everyone who submits is guaranteed to be heard — a bylaw mandated by the Alberta Municipal Government Act.
The blanket upzoning bylaw was approved by Calgary's previous council two years ago, despite 75% of Calgarians speaking in a public hearing at that time against with the bylaw.
According to a count by the staff of Ward 14, Cllr. Landon Johnston, the majority of Calgarians speaking to council and those who have sent written submissions over the last two weeks have been in support of repealing blanket upzoning.
Former city councillor and mayoral candidate Sonya Sharp spoke at the hearing earlier this week, urging council to repeal blanket upzoning, and "reinstate thoughtful and balanced planning processes, and commit to meaningful reform within the planning department.”
“Strong communities require strong planning, transparency, and real engagement with residents,” said Sharp.
Also in favour of a full repeal are officials from the Calgary Real Estate Board whose chief economist, Ann-Marie Lurie, said blanket upzoning is not achieving its intended objectives.
“Improving affordability, increasing missing middle development in the inner city, it didn’t really do that. We’re seeing things that are pretty similar to what they were before rezoning," said Lurie.
“Our purpose on this is more about how do we go back to something that really gives more certainty for buyers and sellers and builders?”