Calgary city council debates proposed exemptions from citywide rezoning repeal

Calgary city council is currently deliberating on a proposal that could exempt hundreds of additional properties from the city's recent repeal of widespread rezoning. This debate centers on whether these specific properties should retain their higher-density zoning, which permits a greater variety of housing types like row homes and duplexes.

“

Obviously, I don’t love that we’re in this situation. But from my perspective, I want to make sure that we’re in compliance with our legal and our legislative obligations.

The potential exemptions are linked to the original motion to repeal citywide rezoning. City administration has identified 247 properties that might be exempt if they had an approved development permit or an application under review before the repeal's effective date of August 4. Properties meeting exemption criteria between January 1 and April 8, 2026, are part of this discussion.

“

We felt really relieved when all of that was (repealed), and thinking this was behind us. Here we are again, just really trying to make it go away.

Mayor Jeromy Farkas acknowledged the difficult situation but stressed the importance of adhering to legal and legislative obligations. A public hearing saw over 100 people speak, with many residents voicing opposition to properties in their areas keeping higher-density zoning. Janice Grant, a resident, expressed dismay at revisiting the rezoning issue after feeling relieved by its earlier repeal.

“

There’s no plans in place so what he’s doing is preserving future development rights at the expense of the neighbours.

Concerns were raised about a specific proposed exemption in Lake Bonavista, which residents believe is intended solely to maintain upzoning. Maureen Haight stated that such actions preserve future development rights at the expense of neighbors, especially without concrete plans. City officials noted that development permit applications continued to arrive even after the policy was scrapped, with 76 files received on the day of the repeal, highlighting landowners' rights.

“

The files did not stop coming, so even on the day the repeal went, we received… 76 development permit files for any number of different things in our city.