No. At the time of development or redevelopment a landowner will decide what type of housing they would like to build. The proposed development would have to comply with all the rules of the Land Use Bylaw. The landowner decides what type of home they want. Further, because the rules of R-CG and R-G have been amended over time, they provide the best rules to develop all forms, including single-detached homes.

Yes. Most established area communities, especially those built prior to 1980, are below their historical peak population. Due to declining population in those areas, and higher efficiency houses being built, there is existing infrastructure capacity (roads, transit stops, water and wastewater management, etc.) to handle more types of housing.

Research shows that adding new homes improves housing affordability for Calgarians. Even when new housing is expensive, adding more homes means fewer people are competing against each other to find a home that fits their needs and budgets.

Allowing a variety of housing types saves Calgarians money because more options mean households only have to pay for what they need for their lifestyle. Adding new homes in an area can reduce rents nearby because older homes need to be priced more competitively to attract households.

New communities play a large role in enabling supply and affordability. Nevertheless, the demand for homes in established communities is very high. Restricting different types of housing, including ground-oriented rowhouses and townhouses in established communities, would result in demand outpacing supply and further increases in rents and prices, reducing affordability. Offering people more choice in the type of housing that suits their needs, including proximity to employment and amenities, can reduce emissions by decreasing travel distance and increasing transportation options. Having more housing options also provides Calgarians the opportunity to live and remain in the same community close to friends, family, and the things we know and enjoy, as our housing needs change over our lifetime.

Consumer choice has strong impacts on city growth. Significant brownfield redevelopment opportunities are limited. TODs and corridors have land value, population and job targets that mean most new homes will be apartments. While apartments are crucial, demand for ground-level housing in Calgary is high.

Sales data analyzed by Assessment & Tax does not show a loss in value of properties adjacent to new rowhouses. Administration will monitor property values in areas of redevelopment to confirm if changes to property values occur. 

To improve the space for waste and recycling bins, Administration has added requirements to Development Permit applications for:

• Site design and screening;
• More room for on-site waste and recycling bins through greater flexibility in site design; and
• Providing educational resources to applicants.

Bylaw changes now also allow bin-sharing, the use of new technologies, and bin enforcement. Further long-term improvements are also being explored.

Success includes the ability for more Calgarians to find a stable, quality home that fits their lifestyles, in a community that meets their needs. Administration will monitor and track the number of new units measured against anticipated units, their location, price and effect on city-wide housing costs.

Calgary currently has 40 new communities under development on its city edges. In 2023, approximately 12,500 new homes were approved for construction in these communities, marking the highest number of housing starts in at least a decade. Despite this surge in construction activity, the supply of homes still failed to keep pace with the strong demand, leading to rising prices and rents. New communities made up for 76% of the total citywide share of new homes, highlighting how fast these communities are already building. Rezoning initiatives have been proposed to help remove barriers and facilitate the development of low to medium density housing in established communities. This move aims to unlock new housing options and increase supply to meet the needs of Calgarians during a period of rapid growth.

All net new increases in units including through infill contribute toward the treatment plant portion of the off-site levy. For linear infrastructure (pipes) the developer/builder historically is directly responsible for local connections. Where development proposals trigger unanticipated local capacity upgrades, traditionally the developer was directly responsible for paying for the upgrade (rather than through a levy). However the City is introducing a process to equitably share that cost through a levy-type mechanism.

The City has developed a strategic approach to guide growth and identify investment needs throughout Calgary. A Citywide Growth Strategy was developed that addresses the three geographic areas of the city: the New Community Growth Strategy, the Industrial Growth Strategy and the Established Area Growth and Change Strategy. This last strategy connects planning, financial, and investment decisions to support our existing communities as they experience growth and change. It supports communities and local businesses so they can be vibrant and successful for decades to come.