PROJECT UPDATE

The Heritage Guidelines for the Westbrook Communities Local Area Plan were recommended for Council approval by the Infrastructure and Planning Committee (IPC) on November 6, 2024.

The Heritage Guidelines for the Westbrook Communities Local Area Plan will be brought forward to a Public Hearing of Council on January 14, 2025. Those interested can participate in the Public Hearing of Council by submitting comments in writing, registering to speak or watching in-person or online. The deadline for submissions is no later than noon one week before the public hearing.

For more information on how to watch or participate at Council, please visit calgary.ca/council/meetings.

What are Heritage Guidelines?

Since May 22, 2024, we have been working with area residents, community associations, heritage advocates, home builders and developers to create Heritage Guidelines for an area in the Westbrook Communities with a concentrated grouping of heritage assets, specific to the community of Shaganappi. Heritage assets, sometimes known as character homes, are privately-owned structures, typically constructed prior to 1945, that significantly retain their original form, scale, massing, window/door pattern and architectural details or materials.

In September 2024 the final draft Heritage Guidelines were shared with the public to inform residents in the Heritage Guideline Area. This included both an in-person session and virtual information session with an Engage Portal where the public could provide comments and Administration could gather feedback to finalize the Heritage Guidelines.

The Heritage Guidelines will help ensure that new development built in this heritage-rich area of the Westbrook Communities are sensitive to the historic context and respect existing heritage assets. The Heritage Guidelines will be included as an amendment to the Westbrook Communities Local Area Plan, the long-range planning policy document that guides growth and change within these communities.

Frequently Asked Questions

A solitary portion of the Westbrook Communities has concentrations of heritage assets. To celebrate the history of this area’s concentration of heritage assets, a Heritage Guideline Area has been identified in the community of Shaganappi, shown below.

A windshield survey was conducted and reviewed to assist in creating an accurate record of heritage assets in the Westbrook LAP Plan Area, and concentrations of heritage assets have been identified in the community of Shaganappi.

The criteria for defining Heritage Guideline Areas:

  • 25% or more of block face comprised of heritage assets
  • At least three heritage assets per block
  • Contiguous groupings of Heritage Guideline Areas
  • Considers planning policy direction
  • Context and compatibility with surrounding built form

Heritage assets are privately owned structures, typically constructed before 1945, that significantly retain their original form, scale, massing, window/door pattern and architectural details or materials.

Calgary’s Land Use Bylaw can make certain uses discretionary in specific areas of the city. New development in the identified Heritage Guideline Areas will be made discretionary to allow the Heritage Guidelines to be applied to planning applications proposing new development and significant exterior renovations. The Heritage Guidelines for Westbrook Communities will only apply within the defined Heritage Guideline Areas.

The Calgary's Land Use Bylaw lists what types of use and developments are allowed for new developments in a location.

Some uses and development types are automatically allowed for a property, and these are called permitted uses. If the proposal meets all of the Land Use Bylaw rules, development permits for permitted uses have guaranteed approval by The City.

The Land Use Bylaw also lists discretionary uses for a property. Even though there are restrictions on the type of use and development allowed, development permits for things in the discretionary uses list might be approved by The City at its discretion. The discretion is often based on guidelines or other special conditions.

Any plans to build or renovate homes within the Heritage Guideline Area boundaries must meet the Heritage Guidelines. Development plans will be approved at the discretion of The City to ensure the Heritage Guidelines have been adhered to. The current development permit approvals process doesn't require the same level of scrutiny and approval.

Alongside existing heritage tools and incentives, a set of three new related tools are being developed to maintain the character of heritage-rich areas in Calgary. The Heritage Incentives Area, Heritage Guideline Areas and Direct Control Heritage Area tools are intended to build upon each other to make it more desirable to keep identified heritage assets and character homes in areas where these buildings are more concentrated.

This Working Group will provide feedback on heritage guidelines, so that new development complements identified heritage assets in the community of Shaganappi.

The Working Group includes:

  • President, Shaganappi Community Association
  • Heritage Area Rep, Shaganappi Community Association Development Committee
  • Heritage Calgary Rep
  • 8 community members

Feedback from the Working Group Session has helped inform the Draft Heritage Guidelines.

Session 1

Session 2

Session 3