In-person Information Session

Thursday, October 24, 2024 from 6:00-8:00 p.m.
Parkhill Stanley Park Community Association (4013 Stanley Road SW). Registration is not required.

Virtual Information Sessions

Tuesday, October 22 from 5:30-7:00 p.m.
Tuesday, November 5 from 7:30-9:00 p.m.

REGISTER HERE for a virtual session.

Review the final draft of the Chinook Communities Local Area Plan (LAP).

If there is anything that is unclear or if you have any questions, please consider attending one of the three information sessions (dates and times above) that are being offered.

Learn more about the Chinook Communities Local Area Plan, including why a local area plan is needed, how the Plan was created and the Plan's key ideas.

Information Booklets will be mailed to homes and businesses starting the week of October 15, 2024. The booklets include highlights of the local area plan and Information Session dates and times.

A digital version of the Information Booklet is available if you did not receive one and/or you can find a booklet at an Engagement Station (see map) nearby.

Find a My Idea Station Map near you to pick up an information booklet.

The Chinook Communities Local Area Plan is anticipated to be brought forward to the Infrastructure and Planning Committee (IPC) in February 2025. Check back for a confirmed date soon or subscribe for email updates.

Anyone who is interested can participate in the public hearing of Committee and/or Council. You can submit your comments in writing, register to speak or watch online.

The agenda for both meetings will be posted a few days prior to the hearings at the link below:

Council and Committee Agendas, Minutes and Video (calgary.ca)

Those wishing to participate in the public hearings can submit their comments or register to speak. Comments submitted before the agenda has been posted should clearly state that the submission is for "The Chinook Communities Local Area Plan".

Public Submission to City Clerks (calgary.ca)

Members of the public may also watch the Committee and Council hearings via live webcast:

Council and Committee webcasts (calgary.ca)

For more information visit Participate in a Council or Committee meeting (calgary.ca)

We heard from people that there was a desire for portions of the Manchester Industrial area, near transit stations and Macleod Trail S, to continue to evolve and welcome additional uses beyond industrial uses.

The Chinook Communities Local Area Plan identifies strategic locations for transition within the Manchester Industrial area where additional mixed uses (such as residential, commercial, and industrial) would be supported— primarily east of Macleod Trail S along the western side of the Manchester Industrial area. As the Manchester Industrial area is also an important and centrally located area for businesses with a smaller industrial focus and last-mile goods delivery, the Plan also supports the continuation of industrial uses within the Manchester Industrial area.

The Plan highlights key investment opportunities within the Manchester Industrial area such as supporting the Barley Belt as a cultural destination, providing streetscape improvements, investing in parks and open spaces, and enhancing the pedestrian and cycling connections. These improvements will enhance the public space and pedestrian experience and help welcome a variety of residential, commercial, and industrial uses in the Manchester Industrial area in key areas identified as appropriate for transition.

We heard from people that parks, open spaces, and natural areas are deeply valued in the Chinook Communities. As the Chinook Communities continue to grow and change, the Plan provides direction to improve safety and accessibility to natural features and open spaces with enhanced pedestrian connections, lighting, wayfinding, and signage.

The Plan outlines opportunities to enhance year-round recreation, including east-west pathway linkages along the Elbow River, Stanley Park, Riverdale Park, and the Glenmore Reservoir. The Plan also recognizes opportunities for new parks, open spaces, civic facilities, and community spaces near the Red Line LRT stations and Main Streets to support convenient access within the communities.

Opportunities to expand the urban forest and address the need for parks and open spaces within Windsor Park and east of Macleod Trail S are included in the Plan. Additionally, expanding the urban tree canopy in the Chinook Communities is guided through tree retention, maintenance, and new plantings. Ensuring that the parks and open spaces in the Chinook Communities have improved facilities and accessibility will result in more people being able to enjoy these valuable amenities.

We heard from people that safe, accessible, comfortable and well-connected public spaces are important. The Plan envisions mixed uses along Main Streets (including Macleod Trail S and 50 Avenue SW) and includes policies to enhance the pedestrian and cycling experience to address current challenges with safety and access.

The Plan envisions the continued evolution of Macleod Trail S with enhanced public spaces, opportunities for placemaking, and new residential and commercial development. The Plan supports the evolution of 50 Avenue SW to include additional community-scale commercial businesses, homes, and enhanced connections between Britannia Plaza and Macleod Trail S.

Improvements to connectivity and mobility in the area are focused on enhancing safe and convenient east- west connections for pedestrians, cyclists, and prioritizing consistent streetscape elements to unify the areas visually, and to mitigate conflicts between different modes of mobility, particularly at approaches to significant intersections.

Identified improvements between Macleod Trail S, 50 Avenue SW, Elbow Drive SW, Activity Centres, and Transit Station Areas will also support residents, visitors, and workers as they travel through the area.

We heard a wide range of perspectives from the public on housing choice and learned about individuals’ different preferences and needs when finding a home based on factors like lifestyle, age, and other changing needs. The Plan supports a range of housing diversity while focusing higher growth in strategic locations, such as Transit Station Areas, Activity Centres, Main Streets, and Community Corridors.

We also heard a range of feedback on mobility choices. The Plan seeks to improve mobility networks by continuing to enhance east-west connections, especially across Macleod Trail S and Elbow Drive SW. The Plan provides direction to improve the overall pedestrian and cycling connectivity throughout the Chinook Communities.

The Plan outlines various mobility improvements to north-south and east-west connectors, including Elbow Drive SW, 1A Street SW, 5 Street SW, 58 Avenue SW, Mission Road SW, 50 Avenue S, Centre Street S, and Blackfoot Trail SE. Increasing housing options and identifying mobility enhancements will improve safety, connectivity, and increase mobility options for people who live, work, and visit the area.

We heard that people value improved walkability, safety, and public spaces to support access to public transit in the Chinook Communities. The Plan envisions Transit Station Areas evolving into distinct and safe mixed-use areas that connect to different mobility options.

The Chinook LRT station area is envisioned to grow as a regional employment centre with the highest levels of activity and development intensity, while the 39 Avenue LRT station area is envisioned to have mixed-use development with areas to the east of the LRT station to remain predominantly industrial while allowing for flexibility in future uses.

The Plan provides direction for improvements including enhanced pedestrian and cycling connections for missing mobility links, streetscape improvements, wayfinding to key amenities and facilities, opportunities for new civic facilities and parks and open spaces. These improvements to public spaces within and around Transit Station Areas will further enhance safe access to public transit.

The Urban Form & Building Scale Maps help visualize where and how growth and change could happen in the plan area over the next 30 years and beyond.

The Urban Form and Building Scale Maps are intended to be interpreted together.

• The Urban Form Map shows types of buildings and what they should be used for. These can include primarily commercial/business areas, primarily residential areas and parks and open space.
• The Building Scale Map shows the maximum height and size buildings can be in a specific area. Scale categories contain policies that outline building heights and other design considerations such as stepbacks (where higher floors are setback from lower floors).

Additional details on the categories within these maps can be found in section 2.2 and 2.3 of the Chinook Communities Local Area Plan or within the Visual Legend.

It's important to remember that change is very gradual and the Local Area Plan itself does not rezone land. It is property/landowners who determine if and when to propose to rezone their land.

A local area plan sets the vision for the evolution of the area—providing direction on future development and investment that residents, landowners, builders / developers, City Planners and Councillors can commonly refer to as new development and investment ideas are proposed.

A variety of opportunities for involvement were available through the process that aimed to accommodate a range of participant interests and intensities, as well as to remove barriers to participation.

Engagement opportunities and methods included: working group sessions, in-person and virtual engagement sessions (with the public, community associations and development industry representatives), online engagement, mailed engagement packages, My Idea Stations, and community walking tours (with community association representatives).

Through the project, advertisements were displayed to help raise awareness of the project and opportunities to get involved. Methods used to raise awareness included: mailed information, community newsletter articles and ads, large format road signs, social media ads (Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Nextdoor), digital ads (including video ads on YouTube), digital ads at local destinations including transit stations, Communications Toolkits for area Councillors and Community Association representatives to help spread the word.

Input provided by residents and other participants helped the project team understand perspectives, opinions, and concerns throughout the all phases of the project. Input collected in each phase of the project helped influence and inform the concepts and policies that were created and refined throughout the process. Throughout the project, the project team shared what was heard, highlighted the key themes raised, and provided responses for how key themes were addressed and considered.

Although it would be a great outcome, the goal of public engagement is not to reach consensus or make everyone happy. Public engagement is about considering the input, ideas, and perspectives of those who are interested in or impacted by decisions, before decisions are made. Participant input is an important part of local area planning, but is one of many areas of consideration. Other areas include: City policies, professional expertise, current context and trends, and equity which all factor into the ultimate decision-making process and concept development.

Public input provided in each phase of the engagement process was compiled, reviewed, and considered as each chapter of the local area plan was created.

• Phase 1: Engagement Summary (PDF)
• Phase 2: Engagement Summary (PDF)
• Phase 3: Engagement Summary (PDF)

• Phase 1 What We Heard Report
• Phase 2 What We Heard Report
• Phase 3 What We Heard Report

• Phase 1 What We Did Report
• Phase 2 What We Did Report
• Phase 3 What We Did Report

Planning Together for the Next 30 Years

We’re working together to create a local area plan for Bel-Aire, Britannia, Elboya, Manchester, Mayfair, Meadowlark Park, Parkhill, Windsor Park, a south portion of Manchester Industrial, and a small eastern portion of Glenmore Park.

What is a Local Area Plan?

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.

Why Do We Need a Local Area Plan?

The city, communities and streets where we live and work have changed, are changing, and will continue to change. People renovate, rebuild, enlarge and modify spaces around them all the time. We need to make sure there’s room for people looking to make changes and provide direction to help guide decisions. We also need to provide guidelines for investment when change is proposed, and certainty for residents and businesses to know how their community may change in the future.

Chinook Communities - Plan Area Boundary Update

Based on the public feedback received in Phase 1, the Chinook Communities' boundary has been amended to include the 39 Ave. LRT Station and nearby area.

Conversations about where, why and how revitalization and redevelopment should happen are essential to ensure there's a plan in place to help guide future changes. Growth and change happen in a community with or without a local area plan.

Consumer demand, market forces, and other factors will drive change in the community. However, in areas with high demand that do not have a local area plan, developers will often have to undertake site-by-site land use redesignation / rezoning applications in order to build developments to meet demand for new housing and businesses. This site-by-site approach can create uncertainty for local residents, who don’t know where the next application will come from and what it will propose. It also creates uncertainty for developers, who don’t know for certain what types of proposals will be acceptable where.

A local area plan helps create more certainty for everyone by outlining the general expectation for what scale and type of new development is appropriate where and what policies will help shape development that is proposed.

We are currently in Phase 4 – REALIZE, which is focused on sharing the final draft plan and brining it forward to Committee and Council for review and decision.

In this phase of the project you can review the final draft plan, learn about the key ideas, review the key changes made since the last phase and find an overview of the engagement that took place through the project. The Plan is anticipated to be brought forward to Committee and Council in Winter 2025.

A variety of opportunities for involvement were available through the process that aimed to accommodate a range of participant interests and intensities, as well as to remove barriers to participation.

Engagement opportunities and methods included: working group sessions, in-person and virtual engagement sessions (with the public, community associations and development industry representatives), , online engagement, mailed engagement packages, My Idea Stations, and community walking tours (with community association representatives).

Through the project, advertisements were displayed to help raise awareness of the project and opportunities to get involved. Methods used to raise awareness included: mailed information, community newsletter articles and ads, large format road signs, social media ads (Facebook, X (Twitter), Instagram, Nextdoor), digital ads (including video ads on YouTube), digital ads at local destinations including transit stations, Communications Toolkits for area Councillors and Community Association representatives to help spread the word.

Check out the "PAST ENGAGEMENT" tab to review What We Heard & What We Did Reports along with Engagement Summaries from each phase through the project.

Input provided by residents and other participants helped the project team understand perspectives, opinions and concerns throughout all phases of the project. Input collected in each phase of the project helped influence and inform the concepts and policies that were created and refined throughout the process. Throughout the project, the project team shared what was heard, highlighted the key themes raised, and provided responses for how key themes were addressed and considered.

Although it would be a great outcome, the goal of public engagement is not to reach consensus or make everyone happy. Public engagement is about considering the input, ideas and perspectives of those who are interested in or impacted by decisions, before decisions are made. Participant input is an important part of local area planning but is one of many areas of consideration. Other areas include: City policies, professional expertise, current context and trends, and equity which all factor into the ultimate decision-making process and concept development.

Check out the "PAST ENGAGEMENT" tab to review What We Heard & What We Did Reports along with Engagement Summaries from each phase through the project.

Land is not rezoned in connection with the approval or adoption of a local area plan. Landowners determine if and when to propose to rezone their land. If a land use rezoning application were brought forward for a property it would be reviewed for alignment with the local area plan (if approved by Council). If no local area plan or local policy guidance is in place, development proposals are reviewed against other Council-approved City policies including the Municipal Development Plan.

In limited cases, The City (rather than a specific landowner) may propose to rezone land; however, City-initiated land use rezonings are clearly identified as such, prior to being brought forward to Council for decision. City Council is the decision maker on all land use rezoning proposals and a public hearing (which includes opportunities for the public to speak to Council directly) must take place prior to Council decision.

No. While a local area plan identifies and guides where and how future growth and change could happen within a specific area, it is property/landowners who decide if and when redevelopment happens on their property/land. If a property/landowner would like to redevelop their land, they are required to submit a planning application and go through a review process to ensure their application aligns with City policies such as the Municipal Development Plan, Local Area Plan and other applicable City policies

City Council makes the final decision on land use redesignation applications. Administration must review all land use redesignation (rezoning) proposals and makes a recommendation to Council based on planning merits, supporting policy and comments received. Council refers to the local area plan and other City policy and holds a public hearing prior to making a decision. Council can make the final decision on a land use redesignation as outlined in the Municipal Government Act (MGA) based on their own interpretation of policies, site characteristics and the merits of the application.

It is anticipated that the Chinook Communities Local Area Plan will be presented to City Council in winter 2025. In the meantime, while the draft Plan is being developed and until Council makes a decision on the proposed Plan, active land use amendment and development permit applications will be reviewed against existing Council approved policy plans, such as the Municipal Development Plan.

In May 2024, Council approved citywide rezoning to allow for single, semi-detached, townhomes and rowhouses across all communities in Calgary. For more information visit calgary.ca/RezoningforHousing. Approved local area plans, those currently underway, as well as all future local area plans will be updated and drafted to align with Council direction to allow for single, semi-detached, townhomes and rowhouses across all communities in Calgary. These changes were effective as of August 6, 2024.

Most mature communities, especially those built prior to 1980, are below their historical peak population, so most communities are already designed to handle more people than live here today. Due to the decline in population and higher efficiency houses being built, there is now infrastructure capacity. This includes roads, transit stops, water and wastewater management, etc. to handle more types of housing.

That being said, through the local area planning process, we plan for reinvestment along with redevelopment. Chapter 3 of the local area plan (Supporting Growth) highlights key community improvements desired within the Chinook Communities. We are looking for feedback on community improvements now to ensure we are capturing all the ways we need to support growth and change in the area.

Those details are not in the scope of a local area plan; however, at the development permit stage details such as building design, site constraints, landscaping, parking, utilities and waste and recycling staging areas are discussed and carefully looked at. Privacy is also discussed as part of the design of the new development. For example, glass blocks or frosted glass can be placed when side windows are proposed. All development permits include the opportunity for the public to provide comments during the review of the proposal as well as to appeal the decision about the proposed development.

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.