Achi news desk-
A marathon meeting over proposed general rezoning in Calgary continued Tuesday in front of a significantly smaller crowd at city hall.
A day after long, winding lineups and dual protests took over the city hall, the council chambers were sparsely attended and overflow seats were almost entirely empty.
Public hearing panels are still being held and more than 600 speakers have yet to speak.
At issue is a debate over whether properties zoned as R-C1 areas, which currently only allow single-detached homes, should be transferred to R-CG to open the door for more housing density in Calgary communities.
“We will see more development happening (if proposed changes are approved),” said Ryan Cairns, resident designer with Ellergodt Design.
“Development is already happening, but we’re not going to see six-story or 70-unit buildings or huge buildings in single-family neighborhoods,” he said.
The city says 67 percent of residential properties are currently zoned for single-family homes only.
General rezoning to R-CG still allows single-family homes on those properties, but also allows for semi-detached homes, such as townhouses and row homes.
“It can mean a duplex or a triplex or a quadruplex nearby,” Cairns explained.
R-CG areas allow development up to 11 meters high and all projects would have to go through the development consent process before being approved.
“We’re capped at maximum building height, we’re capped at density, we’ve got side setbacks, front setbacks, rear setbacks – this still limits what we can do on a lot,” Cairns said.
The vast majority of feedback to the council so far has been against the proposed general rezoning.
Many speakers have concerns regarding the impact that rezoning and higher density developments could have on property values, community character and parking.
“The other thing to remember is that we are talking about providing more housing,” said Mayor Jyoti Gondek.
“If you can provide more supply, it eases the demand,” he said on Tuesday.
The federal government gave Calgary $228 million through its Housing Accelerator Fund after the city passed its housing strategy.
Ministers say the money will not be withdrawn if the proposed zoning changes do not go through.
“The minister (housing) has been clear on this. I have been clear on this. We are not talking about any threats to funding at the moment,” said Randy Boissonnault, the federal minister of employment and development workforce.
He added that Ottawa will watch “democracy unfold” as Calgary holds its lengthy public hearings and debate over rezoning.
“But we want to see the light density along trade corridors. We want to see the ability for people to live and work and play where they want,” he said.
Calgary public hearings will run every day this week from 9:30 am to 9:30 pm and people can register to speak in person or online until the hearing is closed.
On Tuesday night, around 130 panels of five people each are yet to be heard.
