Planning, Land Use & Zoning Open House #1: January 25 - UPDATED

Thank you to everyone who shared their experiences, concerns, and ideas about housing and growth in Calgary. The feedback reflects a wide range of perspectives, but several clear themes came through consistently.

Many residents agreed that Calgary needs more housing and that growth is necessary to address affordability, population change, and sprawl. People recognize that doing nothing is not an option, and several noted that without enough housing, prices will continue to rise and families will be pushed out.

At the same time, residents emphasized that how we grow matters just as much as how much we grow. Growth should be planned carefully and reflect the unique character and capacity of different neighbourhoods.

Residents frequently highlighted the importance of tailoring growth and change to local conditions. Many shared that neighbourhoods differ in character, infrastructure capacity, and planning history, and that these differences should be considered when planning for growth.

Residents expressed a desire for growth that:

• Aligns with existing Area Redevelopment Plans and Local Area Plans
• Prioritizes locations such as transit corridors, main streets, and underutilized commercial areas
• Is distributed more evenly across the city to avoid concentrating change in a small number of inner-city communities

Some residents also noted frustration that certain neighbourhoods experience a disproportionate share of redevelopment, while others see relatively little change. Overall, there was a strong interest in approaches to growth that are balanced, equitable, and responsive to local context.

One of the most common concerns was that infrastructure is not keeping pace with growth. People raised issues about:

• School overcrowding or schools at risk of closure
• Increased traffic and unsafe streets
• Transit service that does not meet the needs of higher density
• Utilities and technical infrastructure already at capacity
• Parking requirements that do not reflect Calgary’s current reality

Many residents said they are open to density, but only if roads, transit, schools, and services are planned and delivered alongside new housing.

Many residents shared that engagement often feels like it happens after key decisions are already made. There is a perception that consultation can be more about “checking the box” than listening.

People also noted that:

• Renters, young people, and working families are underrepresented
• Long public hearings favour those with flexible schedules
• Developers are not always engaging meaningfully with neighbours
• Development often fails to follow the rules and there is a lack of enforcement or follow-up 

Residents want earlier, more genuine engagement and opportunities to help shape outcomes, not just react to them.

Poor building design came up repeatedly as a reason people oppose development. Many residents said they are more accepting of density when buildings are:

• Well-designed and human-scale
• Compatible with surrounding homes
• Thoughtful about height, massing, and setbacks

There were frequent calls for higher design standards, more involvement from architects, and clearer expectations for quality. People feel that unattractive or poorly designed buildings damage trust and fuel resistance to change.

Protection of parks, green space, and mature tree canopy was one of the strongest and most emotional themes. Residents repeatedly said:

• Parks and school sites should not be sold or developed
• We should be expanding existing tree canopy coverage
• Tree loss is permanent and conflicts with climate commitments
• Walkability and access to green space are essential to livable neighbourhoods

Many emphasized that once green space is lost, it cannot be replaced, and they expect Council to treat it as essential infrastructure.

While new housing is being built, many residents questioned whether it is truly affordable. Concerns included:

• New townhomes and row housing priced beyond reach
• Units that are too small or impractical for families
• Development that appears to benefit investors more than residents

People also noted that social housing and market affordability are different challenges and need different solutions.

Several communities feel they are absorbing more than their share of growth, while other areas with significant redevelopment potential remain underused. Residents called for:

• Greater focus on large sites and commercial areas
• More equitable sharing of density across the city
• Planning that considers cumulative impacts, not just individual projects

Overall, we heard a wide variety of feedback and ideas. Residents are asking for growth that is thoughtful, well-designed, fairly distributed, supported by infrastructure, and shaped with communities.

Thank you to everyone who took the time to share their views. We plan to have two more open houses in the coming weeks, so residents can continue to share their thoughts on this topic. More information on upcoming open houses can be found here. 

We plan to use this feedback to propose and shape solutions to the challenges our city and communities face moving forward. If you have any questions, please reach the Ward 8 team at ward8@calgary.ca.

- Ward 8 Team