Thoughts on New Zoning Bylaws and Restrictive Covenants
by Melanie Swailes on behalf of the Development and Transportation Committee
If you see a City of Calgary Development signboard on a neighbouring property, please read it immediately! It will contain information about the type of project (such as single dwelling or rowhouse), the number of units (usually not including the number of secondary suites), and most important the Development Permit (DP) number with a link for further information. There will also be a date by which to respond, typically about two to three weeks. If you have any concerns, it’s important that you ask questions and submit your comments within that time frame.
Neighbours sometimes contact us when they see the foundation, or when walls and windows are being erected on a new dwelling, to ask how to change or stop a building that seems too large or too tall. However, once the DP is approved, there is a three-week period in which to file an appeal, but after this the project can go ahead. The more you know about the planning process ahead of time, the better.
Why might this matter now? Previously, there were relatively few houses torn down in Brentwood, and most of those were replaced by a new (sometimes much larger) house. However, blanket rezoning was approved by Council in May 2024. After August 2024, all former R-C1 (“single-family”) properties are now shown as R-CG on City maps: this means that it is now possible to build up to a rowhouse on most lots without requiring a rezoning first.
The City has seen an increase in Development Permit applications for duplex, townhouse, and row house projects. This year, in the period from May 14 to August 12, the city received 51 applications for DPs on R-CG and H-GO zoned parcels across the city, more than double the 24 applications during the same time frame in 2023. A city official quoted in the Calgary Herald was hesitant to attribute the recent increase in development permits to the change, in part because the city has received more DP applications of all kinds year-over-year. Regardless, it is up to you to be aware of redevelopment near you and respond. Sending a copy to the Brentwood CA is recommended so that we can accurately represent our residents by including your feedback in the CA comments to the city. (Source: https://calgaryherald.com/news/calgary-blanket-zoning-r-cg-applications-increase)
Besides the Blanket Rezoning changes, the City is currently working on a new Zoning Bylaw, with the fourth phase of engagement already closed for commenting. This new Zoning Bylaw will regulate how and where buildings are developed throughout Calgary. https://engage.calgary.ca/citybuilding.
Some of the main changes being proposed include:
• Consolidated zones: 26 residential districts have been simplified to three new housing zones (this would include the current R-CG building category).
• Counting secondary suites as units in density calculations. Currently, when you see an application for a “four-unit” townhouse, it can also have an additional four basement suites for a total of eight units. The total would now reflect that more accurately.
• The minimum front setback would be three metres. In Brentwood, most of our front setbacks are much larger so this means a new development could extend further out beyond the current contextual averages for the street.
• Parking would be “an Open Option approach” where residential or mixed-use property owners would decide how much parking is required to meet their residents’ needs. This would replace the current .5 parking stalls per unit (i.e. a rowhouse with a total of eight units would need four parking stalls under R-CG zoning, but the new bylaw would let the owner/developer determine the amount parking provided).
Most people I’ve spoken with are not aware of the new proposed bylaw; they believe that the blanket rezoning approval is the extent of the changes in what and how redevelopment happens. If you don’t want to be surprised by the changes being proposed, then it’s up to you to learn more now.
A common theme among CAs and residents throughout all discussions about densification and redevelopment is that yes, we need more housing, but it has to respect and fit in with what already exists in each community. Many people want to provide their input about how and where redevelopment should occur, but more than that, they want their responses to matter! Each of us experiences our community on a local level and what gets built next door will impact you, either positively or negatively. It starts with the signboard on the front lawn! Read it, find out more, and respond.
If you would like to join our community association, you are always welcome to do so. Contact the office at [email protected] or at 403-284-3477.
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