THANK YOU FOR YOUR INPUT!

PHASE 3: REFINE was open for input from October 24 to November 20, 2023 and is now closed.

A What We Heard report, including a summary of key themes and all verbatim feedback, will be shared along with a What We Did report, outlining how key themes were considered and addressed, at the next phase of engagement in spring 2024.

For updates on the project and what’s happening next, please SUBSCRIBE FOR UPDATES.

What is a small-scale home?

A small-scale home is any home that is three storeys or less with one or more units that each have their own exterior entrance.

Small-scale homes include single-detached homes, semi-detached homes, duplexes, rowhouses, triplexes, fourplexes, and other forms that share those same characteristics. Basement or backyard suites could be included in all small-scale housing forms except triplexes and fourplexes.

Different forms of small-scale homes are described and shown below (click to expand):

Today, a single-detached home can be built up to three storeys in any residential area without the need to change the zoning. Rather than only having the option to rebuild a single-detached home (which is and always will be a choice), people may want, need or prefer something different.

*Based on the Land Use Bylaw Rules.

Redevelopment is a natural part of a community’s life cycle, which often begins when communities reach a certain age and homes, buildings and amenities need to be refreshed and revitalized or renewed and replaced.

On September 16, 2023, Council approved Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy. Part of that strategy directed Administration to bring forward land use changes that would make R-CG the base residential district across the city.

What would change if R-CG were the base residential district across the city?

If Council approves these changes, it would then be legal to apply to build a variety of small-scale homes such as single detached, semi detached, rowhouses and townhouses on any residential lot in the city. While this would remove the land use redesignation / rezoning requirement for these homes, this does not change the existing development permit review process.

What are the next steps?

Administration is currently working on providing more information and opportunities for you to share your input. All property owners who may be affected by these changes will be directly notified by The City. We currently expect that the public hearing, which will include the opportunity to submit comments and speak to Council, will take place in spring (Q2) 2024. The date will be confirmed as soon as possible. For more information on Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy, go to calgary.ca/housingstrategy

What We've Heard So Far

In the last phase of engagement, we started the conversation about where buildings of four storeys or greater could potentially be added into the area. Themes explored were: around transit stations and International Avenue, at Neighbourhood Activity Centres (Nodes) and along major roads. We received lots of great feedback. For example, we heard:

• More intense growth and taller buildings around the transit stations and along major roads are seen as appropriate and are generally supported.
• Strong support for various building types and housing affordability throughout the communities.

• Neighbourhood Activity Centres (Nodes) are important to the communities and are considered to be suitable for development of four storeys or greater to support opportunities for local amenities and shops. You will see that we’ve made changes or confirmed we were on the right track in response to the feedback received in Phase 2 (see maps inside the fold). For example:

• Focused development growth around Franklin LRT station, Max Purple BRT Station Areas, and along corridors such as 36 St SE, 44 St SE, Memorial Drive E and 26 Ave SE.

• Included a mixture of building scales allowing for various building types.
• Moderate-to large-scale growth with building transition has been added to Neighbourhood Activity Centres (Nodes) to support these additional opportunities for amenities, shops, etc.

All property/landowners have the right to propose changes to their land. New homes and buildings are proposed in response to people’s changing wants and needs. When development is proposed, a local area plan provides direction on what makes sense where and provides property/landowners, residents, City Planners and Council with direction to inform development decisions.

A local area plan aims to balance the need to provide flexibility for people looking to make changes, certainty for existing residents and direction when development proposals are brought forward.

Your feedback on the draft maps on the inside fold will help guide where growth and development could fit best in the Greater Forest Lawn Communities over the next 30 years.

There are two maps in a local area plan that outline what type and scale/height of development makes sense where:

Map 1: Draft Urban Form Map

The Draft Urban Form Map shows the types of uses proposed for different areas. These can include primarily commercial/business areas, primarily residential areas and parks and open space.

Map 2: Draft Building Scale Map

The Draft Building Scale Map shows the allowable building height and size for different areas. The various scale categories contain policies that outline both building heights and also other design considerations such as step backs (where higher floors are set back from lower floors).

Take a look at the draft maps below. These draft maps have not been finalized and we are looking for your input.

View the Draft Urban Form Map and Draft Building Scale Map in PDF format if you'd prefer.

The Urban Form legend and Building Scale legend (which includes descriptions of each category) is also available in PDF format.

These draft maps can also be found in the revised Draft Chapter 2 local area plan content, along with supporting draft development direction (policies).

Core Values and Community Improvements

Community improvements are changes to amenities, public spaces, services, parks and open spaces, and public facilities that support neighbourhoods across the plan area. They are not site-specific as they are meant to benefit the whole Plan area, provide benefits to more than one resident and are intended to be actionable. Examples could include projects such as:

• upgrades to parks
• wider sidewalks
• new bikeway/pathway connections
• increased tree canopy

Community improvements are identified as investment priorities in a local area plan, but do not have associated funding and have no timeline attached to implementation. As investment priorities, they may be implemented by various groups including The City, developers, communities, etc. in connection with redevelopment or if/when funding becomes available.

To help frame this discussion, we will refer back to our core values.

CORE VALUES	COMMUNITY IMPROVEMENTS
	Housing for All Income Levels: Leverage City land to contribute to affordable housing development. Diverse Housing: Divers housing options such as tiny homes, backyard suites, and other multi-generational housing types.
	Traffic Calming: Implement traffic calming measures, especially near school sites and parks, such as curbs that narrow the street or other inventive solutions. Pedestrian Movement: Address accessibility issues along transit routes, snow cleared routes, and within activity centres and address issues concerning streets that are missing sidewalks. Cycling Network: Enhance the cycling infrastructure with raised cycle tracks along roadways that offer continuous east west or north south connections.
	Parks and Open Spaces: Add all-season and diverse recreational uses within parks, such as outdoor exercise equipment for all ages and abilities. Community Facilities: Enhance the functionality of community facilities and activate outdoor spaces through the inclusion of infrastructure such as lighting, access to electricity, drinking fountains and washrooms.
	Climate Resiliency: Prioritize sustainable wheeling travel modes and increase usage of modes such as walking, and transit to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Climate Adaptation: Using a proactive approach to potential climate-related hazards in the area through adequate stormwater retention and green infrastructure such as native vegetation and a robust tree canopy.
	Public Space Improvements: Provide an enhanced public realm that prioritizes the creation of safe and universally accessible spaces for people to sit, gather, enjoy, walk, cycle, and recreate. Businesses: Support and encourage street festivals, music festivals, pop-ups, urban art and other community initiatives that celebrate the area and welcome people from all over the city. Culture: Explore opportunities for creating a multicultural centre for all ages and backgrounds.

Additional investment priority details can be found in draft Chapter 3 of the local area plan.

The draft chapter 1, chapter 2 and chapter 3 of the Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan are available for review.

Please click on the links to review the draft chapters and give your feedback in the question below.

• Draft Chapter 1 - Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan: Information about the history of the area, the area as it exists today, and the future vision and core values to help guide growth and change are included in draft Chapter 1.
• Draft Chapter 2 - Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan: A refined draft of Chapter 2 has been created for review.
• Draft Chapter 3 - Greater Forest Lawn Communities Local Area Plan: An initial draft of Chapter 3 has been created for review.

Chapter 1 draft content was created and refined through engagement in Phase 1: ENVISION. Initial Chapter 2 draft content was created based on engagement in Phase 1: ENVISION and was further refined based on feedback provided through Phase 2: EXPLORE.

A refined version of Chapter 2 is now available above along with Draft Chapter 3, which will also be refined.