Reconnecting with the North Hill Communities!
The North Hill Communities Local Area Plan (approved in September 2021) includes the communities of Highland Park, Mount Pleasant, Tuxedo Park, Winston Heights-Mountview, Crescent Heights, Renfrew, Rosedale, Capitol Hill and Thorncliffe Greenview (south of Mcknight Blvd).
Why are we Reconnecting?
In May 2024, Council voted to approve citywide rezoning amendments to allow for single, semi-detached, townhomes and rowhouses in communities across Calgary. Approved local area plans will be updated to align with this decision (see Rezoning for Housing for more information). With this Council-approved rezoning, the North Hill Communities Local Area Plan will be updated to align.
As part of Rezoning for Housing, Council directed Administration to re-engage in approved LAP areas – our focus will be on community improvements found in Chapter 3/Appendix A.
Additionally, In September 2023, Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy was approved by Council. Council directed Administration to remove the Single-Detached Special Policy Area from the Guide for Local Area Planning immediately and to remove the Single-Detached Special Policy Area from North Hill Communities LAP. Updates to the Guide were completed in 2023.
What Updates are being made?
Rezoning for Housing
When the North Hill Communities Local Area Plan was approved in 2021, it included Limited Scale policies under the Neighbourhood Local category (Section 2.2.1.6, pages 41-42). These policies provide location criteria for building forms containing three or more units. Based on the citywide rezoning decision these policies will be removed to align with Council direction.
A new policy will be added to section 2.2.1.6 to clarify that multi-residential housing (such as apartment-style buildings) is not supported in Neighbourhood Local, Limited Scale areas.
Page 41 of the image below shows the policy being removed as indicated with red strikethrough. Click here for a full sized image of page 41.
 |
Home is Here – The City of Calgary’s Housing Strategy
The Single-Detached Special Study Area (found on Page 42 of the LAP). will also be removed, per Council direction.
Page 42 of the image below details the policy being removed - change to Page 42 below shows the policy being removed as indicated with red strikethrough. Click here for a full sized image of page 42.
 |
Get Involved
Share your thoughts on additional community improvements for the North Hill communities
Chapter 3 of the LAP (page 88) and Appendix A (page 108) identify a number of potential community improvements/investment priorities. We are looking for your feedback on any other ideas you might have.
Community Improvements are:
- Higher-level objectives
- Linked to the Plan’s vision and core values
- Designed to be flexible and adaptable to meet changing needs over time
- The community improvements include, but are not limited to, upgrading existing streets, transportation networks, parks and recreation facilities
Community Improvements are not:
- Prescriptive spot improvements (e.g., sidewalk repairs, crosswalk painting)
- Focused on existing infrastructure maintenance
- Intended to replace or refurbish infrastructure that is at the end of its lifespan
- Attached to any existing funding
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Review frequently asked questions by clicking on the drop down menu below.
A local area plan sets the vision for the evolution of the area over the next 30 years. It provides direction on future development and investment that residents, landowners, builders / developers, City Planners and Council can commonly refer to when new development and investment ideas are proposed.
A local area plan will support your community as it changes by:
- Increasing predictability about how the area could change in the future.
- Responding to changing trends and demographics such as population decline, family composition, aging in place, housing preferences.
- Expanding housing choice to welcome additional people and increase population.
- Supporting local amenities and businesses through increased population.
- Informing decisions about reinvestment, such as improvements to public spaces.
- Adding more homes, increasing wheeling and walkability opportunities, and improving access to amenities and transit, as well as reducing the need to expand our city’s footprint, all play a role in environmental sustainability.
Local area plans are not set in stone but are intended to be updated over time to respond to the changing needs of the communities. We are returning to update previously approved local area plans to keep them up to date to align with recent Council decisions and direction.
Life cycle of a community
New communities tend to draw many young families and typically reach their peak population within the first 20 years.
Population begins to decline as children begin to move away from home.
Homes and buildings age and the population continues to drop or flatline. Schools and businesses often struggle to stay open.
The community is revitalized through private redevelopment and public reinvestment, bringing increased population growth and enabling local businesses and amenities to thrive.
Local area plans are meant to be living documents that may be amended and updated over time as the community changes and as conditions and circumstances in the area evolve.
A local area plan may require amendments over time to align with Council decisions or direction that impact the local area plan – such as the citywide Rezoning for Housing decision.
Local area plans are also intended to be reviewed and updated periodically to ensure they continue to guide growth and change in a strategic manner.
City Council is the final decision maker on all local area plan amendments.
The Urban Form and Building Scale maps will not be updated as part of the Reconnect.
