by D. Jeanne Kimber
The City of Calgary has a number of planning and development initiatives underway, several of which will have direct impact to Highland Park. The City Building Program is one initiative and includes work on a new Calgary Plan (to update the current Municipal Development Plan), a new Zoning Bylaw (to replace the current Land Use Bylaw) and a Streets Manual. The Established Area Growth and Change Strategy is another initiative which aims to deliver local projects that are smaller in scale. The recently completed Balmoral Circus at 2 Street and 19 Ave NW is a good example of a small project that has provided public space for socializing or for play. A related program is the Growing Spaces Projects and Grant Program which provides small funding to Community Associations and Business Improvement Areas.
Two programs that will have a direct impact on planning and development in the community are:
• Keeping Neighbours in the Know, which is focused on how the City can improve the notification process to residents about planning applications and
• Planning Liaison Program. This program has been advocated by many people involved in community association planning activities as a way for the City planning team to learn more and interact better with communities. File Managers deal with individual applications and are frequently shifted from one area of the city to another to broaden their knowledge and experience. What has been lacking is a City planner dedicated to a community or communities, who would be able to develop a deeper understanding of what makes the community work, what doesn’t work, and what are the needs of the community. From this, we hope that the City Planning Liaison would both help and represent the concerns of residents as they engage with development applications. We look forward to implementation of this last program.
Comments can be submitted through the DMAP at https://developmentmap.calgary.ca/ on the following development proposals:
• DP2024-00614 for a temple at 3704 and 3708 Centre St NE. Plans have been recently amended.
• DP2024-08555 at 3703 Centre A St NE for three rowhouses with six suites.
• DP2025-4803 for a four-unit rowhouse with suites at 201 34 Ave NE.
• DP2025-05104 for a four-unit rowhouse with suites as 203 42 Ave NW.
• DP2025-06058 and DP2025-06059 for two single-detached homes at 3408 1 St NW (north and south lots).
• DP2025-06869 for a garage suite at 244 43 Ave NW.
• DP2025-02163 for four rowhouse buildings with 15 upper and 15 lower suites at 425 – 439 37 Ave NW (In Review).
• DP2025-04201 at 3820 and 3824 Centre A St NE for two multi-residential buildings with underneath parking for eight.
• DP2025-04746 for three rowhouse buildings with 14 units, four suites, and only eight parking garages at 4004 and 4008 Centre A St NE.
• DP2025-06188 for a four-plex at 120 41 Ave NW.
The application to build a semi-detached with suites at 132 44 Ave NE was approved. The appeal period ended December 29.
Council met on December 15 to discuss the Notice of Motion regarding the repeal of the Blanket Rezoning bylaw. A public hearing on the matter would not likely happen until March 2026.
Highland Park Planning and Development Committee wishes everyone a happy, healthy and safe holiday season. All the best to you and your families now and in 2026.
Click here to the Highland Park Community News home page for the latest Highland Park community updates.
