Calgary City Council heard from its final panel Monday evening in a historic public hearing about a proposed rezoning bylaw, concluding 12 days of submissions.
The council voted 8-7 in favor of the Ward 10 county resolution. Andre Chabot said the council will return Thursday to hear a summary of the city administration’s public hearing.
However, debate and administration questions are not expected to begin before Monday, May 13.
Gondek previously told Global News that he thinks the debate could last two to three days.
“Anytime we’re going into something where there’s a lot of interest from the public and the council, it’s hard to predict where the conversation will go,” he said.
The proposed bylaw is one of about 80 recommendations City of Calgary Housing StrategyWhich would change the base residential zoning district to RC-G instead of RC-1 or RC-2 zoning.
Currently, most residential areas are zoned to allow only single-family homes by default.
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RC-G zoning will allow single-family homes to be built as well as duplexes, triplexes and rowhouses. Construction of apartment buildings is not permitted in RC-G neighbourhoods.
City administration said that changing the base residential zoning district to RC-G will make it easier to build different types of homes, increasing housing options for all Calgarians and improving housing affordability in the city.
According to the City of Calgary website, The rezoning would also increase transit options such as active and public transportation systems.
The website also said rezoning would help keep property taxes low because the costs of maintaining utilities and roads are shared among a larger population.
Those opposing the bylaw argued that by adding duplexes, triplexes and rowhouses, the council would bring too much density to RC-1 zoned neighborhoods that would ultimately change their character.
Others said they were not sure rezoning would actually have an impact on housing prices, arguing that developers and landlords would charge higher rents for new construction.
Many of those protesting the bylaw also said they do not feel they are heard on the city council, claiming their rights are being taken away. However, the city administration said that public hearings for development permits would continue even after the bylaw is passed.
Several organizations that support vulnerable Calgarians and provide them resources urged council to pass the bylaw, saying the bylaw could potentially speed up the process of developing non-market housing. Representatives also said that many low-income residents were unable to attend the public hearing because they could not afford time off from work.
Representatives from the Drop-In Centre, YWCA Calgary and Momentum Calgary were among others who asked council to vote in favor of the bylaw.
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