What We’re Talking About Now

We are currently in Phase 2 – EXPLORE, and we want to hear your thoughts on the draft Vision and Core Values. We’re also going to start looking at where and how growth and change could happen in the area.

What We’ve Discussed So Far

In Phase 1 – ENVISION, we asked you to help us look back at the past, understand the present and envision the future. The feedback provided helped us draft a Vision and Core Values for the West Elbow Communities that will help guide decisions about the evolution of the area over the next 30 years.

What We’ll Discuss Next

Your input now will help inform and refine the focus areas for growth and new development. In the next phase of engagement, we will ask for your thoughts on the appropriate building scales (heights/number of storeys) and uses (residential, commercial, industrial, mixed use, etc.) for growth within all areas of the plan. In addition, we will discuss community improvements and reinvestments.

Local area plans are meant to be living documents that may be amended and updated over time as the community changes and evolves and as conditions and circumstances in the area change.

City Council is the decision maker for all local area plan amendments

Yes. During the third phase of public engagement, which is scheduled to launch in the fall, we will be talking about the community improvements that people want to see throughout the West Elbow Communities.

This could include items such as park improvements, streetscape upgrades or planting of more trees. The input we get during Phase 3 will help shape Chapter 3: Supporting Growth.

On May 14, 2024, City Council voted to approve citywide rezoning with amendments. Additional information will be shared on Calgary.ca/RezoningforHousing as it becomes available.

Local area plans will align with Council's rezoning decision to support rowhouses. Moving forward, efforts will shift to helping people understand how citywide rezoning and the local area plans align. 

In Phase 2, we explore potential focus areas where new moderate-to large-scale homes and businesses could be welcomed. This is generally defined as buildings that are 4 storeys or larger, in contrast to small-scale homes, which are those 3 storeys or less.

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.

According to the Land Use Bylaw, small-scale homes include:

Single-detached homes

• Contain one primary residence and may include a backyard or basement suite.
• Can be different scales including one storey (bungalow) two or three storeys.
• The general lot coverage is 45 per cent and the maximum height is 10 metres.

Semi-detached and duplex homes

• Contain two primary residences in one building and may include a basement suite or backyard suite for each primary residence.
• Residences in semi-detached dwellings are separated from each other side to side, and duplexes are separated above and below. Can be different scales including one storey (bungalow) two or three storeys.
• The general lot coverage is 45 per cent and the maximum height is 10 metres. This makes the massing generally similar to a single-detached home.

Rowhomes

• Contain three or more residences on a property and may include a basement suite or backyard suite for each primary residence.
• Typically have up to 60 per cent lot coverage and up to three storeys in height (11 metres).

Triplex and Fourplex homes

• Contain three or more primary residences (suites are not permitted).
• Residences not required to have front entrance facing the street.
• Typically have up to 60 per cent lot coverage and can be up to three storeys in height (11 metres).
• Residences are separated from each other side to side and / or top to bottom.

The West Village will be incorporated into the Greater Downtown as part of the revised Calgary Plan. This will allow the area to be better integrated with the Greater Downtown, as it relates to the river pathway and open space system and other downtown-related initiatives on West Village lands. The map on page 2 reflects this boundary amendment.

Heritage Guidelines Areas have concentrations of heritage assets (homes built prior to 1945), sometimes known as character homes. Heritage assets are privately owned structures that significantly retain their original form, scale, massing, window/door pattern and architectural details or materials.

Concentrations of heritage assets have been identified in 11 of the West Elbow Communities: Bankview, Cliff Bungalow, Elbow Park, Erlton, Mission, Roxboro, Rideau Park, Scarboro, South Calgary, Sunalta, and Upper Mount Royal.

The Heritage Guidelines will help ensure new development respects the historic character of existing homes and positively contributes to the ongoing heritage nature of these areas. When the Guidelines are in place, any plans to build or renovate homes within the boundaries must meet the Heritage Guidelines.

You can find more information about Heritage Guidelines and the Working Group here.

More information on the Heritage Guidelines will be released in Phase 3 of public engagement, along with opportunities to provide feedback as the plan develops.