Executive Summary
West Elbow Communities Local Area Plan Executive Summary
Plan Highlights
Current Context
The West Elbow Communities are located in southwest Calgary, just west of the Elbow River and south of downtown.
The area includes Altadore, Bankview, Cliff Bungalow, Elbow Park, Erlton, Garrison Woods, Lower Mount Royal, Mission, Rideau Park, Roxboro, Scarboro, South Calgary, Sunalta, Upper Mount Royal, the portion of North Glenmore Park north of Glenmore Trail SW, and the portion of Richmond east of Crowchild Trail SW.
Future Evolution
The West Elbow Communities Local Area Plan was developed to help guide where and how this area can continue to evolve over time. An overview of some of the future community improvements that are envisioned for the area as well as key locations where different types of new development are envisioned are summarized below.
Key Moves
The Plan’s key moves are aligned with the core values, found in Chapter 1.
Historic Places and Spaces
Celebrating the unique histories of the West Elbow Communities
- Finding opportunities to commemorate the histories of the Plan area through educational, placemaking, and naming opportunities, including Indigenous and non-Indigenous histories.
- Incentivizing the retention of historic buildings and places.
- Ensuring new development within heritage-rich areas is contextually sensitive.
Housing for All
Supporting diverse housing options throughout the Plan area to meet the needs of all
- Supporting a diversity of housing options that meet the current and evolving needs of Calgarians today and in the future.
- Enabling the provision of mixed-market housing and non-market housing.
Parks, Open Space, and Natural Areas
Enhancing parks, open spaces, and natural areas
- Enhancing natural areas, like the Elbow River valley, to improve ecological functions and protect areas of cultural significance.
- Identifying Park improvements and investment opportunities in existing parks including Lindsay Park, South Calgary Park, and community parks throughout the Plan area.
- Supporting improvements to recreational facilities including the MNP Community & Sport Centre and Glenmore Athletic Park.
Safe and Convenient Mobility
Improving the safety and accessibility of all mobility options to and through the Plan area
- Highlighting opportunities to improve pedestrian and active mobility modes including community corridor and pathway improvements.
- Supporting improvements to the transit network through identifying opportunities for mobility infrastructure upgrades, including transit station area improvements near Sunalta LRT Station and Erlton/Stampede LRT Station, as well as around BRT stations.
Climate Resiliency
Identifying mitigation measures that address hazards caused by a changing climate
- Supporting sustainable development practices that limit per capita greenhouse gas emissions.
- Identifying opportunities to reduce vulnerability from climate events such as flooding.
Daily Needs and Amenities
Enabling a diversity of businesses throughout the Plan area and improving access to daily needs and amenities
- Highlighting opportunities for Main Street improvements throughout the Plan area including 10 Avenue SW, 17 Avenue SW, 33 Avenue SW, Macleod Trail S, 4 Street SW, and 14 Street SW.
- Exploring opportunities for local commercial uses along community corridors and within select communities like Bankview, South Calgary, Mission, and Cliff Bungalow.
Focus Areas for New Development
Key locations for commercial development
Neighbourhood Commercial
Existing commercial areas are envisioned to continue to support local businesses and allow for new commercial opportunities in the future, improving as pedestrian-friendly corridors with diverse businesses including restaurants, entertainment, and emerging retail business opportunities. These areas are located along existing commercial concentrations on the Neighbourhood Main Streets of 10 Avenue SW, 17 Avenue SW, 14 Street SW, 4 Street SW, and 33 Avenue SW. Several of these areas are also located in transit station areas, including around Sunalta LRT Station on 10 Avenue SW, 33 Avenue SW BRT Station, and 54 Avenue SW BRT Station.
Key locations for mixed-use development
Neighbourhood Flex
Areas envisioned for new mixed-use development (either fully residential, fully commercial or a combination of both) are envisioned for areas along Main Streets without existing commercial concentrations, including parts of 10 Avenue SW, 17 Avenue SW, 14 Street SW, 33 Avenue SW, and on the west side of Macleod Trail S. Community corridors are also envisioned to allow flexibility in new mixed-use development opportunities. This includes 26 Avenue SW (west of 14 Street SW), and 54 Avenue SW, roads adjacent to Main Streets including 11 Avenue SW, 12 Avenue SW, and 34 Avenue SW, and comprehensive and special policy areas including the Holy Cross site and Cathedral District.
Key locations for residential with local shops
Neighbourhood Connector
Primarily residential development, with different housing types and opportunities for small local-focused shops, are envisioned predominately along community corridors including Richmond Road SW, 20 Street SW, 16 Street SW, Elbow Drive SW, and 50 Avenue SW, and areas adjacent to Main Streets. Policies in this Plan support neighbourhood wide local commercial opportunities in some communities including Bankview, Cliff Bungalow, Mission, and South Calgary. These areas create opportunities for small businesses to locate in communities, providing access to daily needs, services, and amenities.
Key locations for residential development
Neighbourhood Local
Opportunities for residential homes or home-based businesses continue to be predominant throughout the Plan area.