“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because and only when, they are created by everybody. Designing a dream city is easy; rebuilding a living one takes imagination.” – Jane Jacobs
One definition of city/urban planning is a system for the planning and control of the construction, growth and development of a city or other urban area. More specifically, city planning entails drawing up, evaluating, and forecasting an organized, coordinated, and standardized physical arrangement of a city and its underlying infrastructure, processes, functions, and services. This includes buildings, transportation infrastructure for vehicles, pedestrians and other modes of travel, neighbourhoods, commercial areas, and parks. As cities expand in geographic area and population over time, established (i.e., older) communities within the city become subject to redevelopment as existing homes and businesses are modified or replaced with newer structures and lands are repurposed. Land uses change in response to population increases and changes in land values. Municipal bylaws and planning policies also change and provide the legal and political framework governing the manner in which redevelopment takes place.
As one of Calgary’s most historic neighbourhoods, Bridgeland-Riverside has seen, and will continue to see, significant redevelopment in comparison to other communities. The City of Calgary’s Development Map (developmentmap.calgary.ca) currently identifies 144 Development Permit applications and six Land Use Redesignation applications in Bridgeland-Riverside. By way of contrast, my former neighbourhood Oakridge has 34 DP and one Land Use applications, and the Hamptons has 26 DPs and zero Land Use applications. The current applications in Bridgeland-Riverside range from a DP for a secondary suite to a land use redesignation to allow for the construction of 27 storey buildings in the south-east corner of the community.
You can see why the BRCA Planning Committee is the busiest of our volunteer committees. It receives and reviews every DP and Land Use application filed with the City for lands in our neighbourhood. The Committee reports to the BRCA Board of Directors and has active dialogue with residents and businesses and with developers. Its meetings are open to the community and the Committee provides advice, feedback, background information and context to impacted stakeholders and to the City of Calgary on specific applications and on bigger picture planning issues. Where appropriate, the BRCA has appeared before City Council and the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board on behalf of the community.
To be most effective, engagement on planning matters needs to be community wide. Residents and businesses need to become aware of what is taking place next door, across the street and throughout the neighbourhood. Look at the City’s Development Map and take the time to read the notice signs posted on specific lots and buildings. If you have a view (positive or negative) regarding a proposed DP or land use redesignation, make that view known to the Planning Committee and the City’s File Manager whose contact information is provided on the Development Map and in the posted notices.
To assist and educate the community, the BRCA Planning Committee is holding a Planning Open House on September 17 at the BRCA Hall commencing at 6:30 to 8:30 pm. Representatives of the Committee and the BRCA Board will be providing information, resources, and tools to assist residents and businesses interested in planning issues and to hear the views of the community on these matters. I encourage you to attend. If you want to become further involved, the Planning Committee is always looking for additional members.
Alex MacWilliam
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