Edmonton city council hears from public on zoning bylaw review

What impacts have widespread zoning changes allowing for more infill in Edmonton had on local neighbourhoods?

City leaders are hearing from those frustrated at a one-year review of the bylaw.

“Physically, when the construction starts, that’s when the concern arises,” said Greg Meimar, with Neighbourhoods United.

Meimar lives in southwest Edmonton. He’s with a group representing over 40 neighbourhoods in the city that are calling for changes to the city’s zoning bylaw, which came into effect at the beginning of 2024. 

Meimar is one of many Edmontonians voicing their concerns in council chambers Tuesday, with speakers concerned over the increase in multi-unit dwellings and infill housing being built on what used to be a single-family home in Edmonton’s mature neighbourhoods, and the impact that has on traffic.

He says he’s not against rezoning, but has concerns about parking and spacing in the neighbourhood.

“I think density, often it’s referred to in number of units, but when you break it down, to actual people living there, you could physically have less units but perhaps larger families,” he explained.

Edmonton’s population has grown by more than 140,000 people over the last three years. The new zoning bylaw is meant to allow for more housing options as the city is expected to grow to a population of two million people. 

Councillors are also hearing from students who are calling for more affordable housing options, saying they are being pushed to their financial limits.

“The U of A campus food bank has seen a 600 per cent increase over the last five years, and the number one reason is rent increases. And as the number of students keeps increasing in Edmonton, we need to make sure there’s housing for students,” said Abdul Abbasi, the vice-president of the University of Alberta’s Students’ Union.

Edmonton’s mayor told CityNews that while the bylaw is a work in progress, he’s in favour of more housing density in Edmonton’s older neighbourhoods. 

“As we implement these things, we learn and improve. But we’ve got to carry on this path, if we don’t, then we are going to be building a very unsustainable city in every aspect of the way, from an environmental sustainability point of view, to an affordability point of view, and taxes,” said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.

Councillor and mayoral candidate Tim Cartmell also told media there’s work to be done on the zoning bylaw, he wants more focus on new neighborhoods and underused inner-city land. 

“I’ve been rallying against things like Blatchford for years. There are opportunities to actually meet a lot of the need and a lot of the pressure we’re feeling if we just get out of our own way when it comes to policies around those open spaces, those great big open spaces,” said Cartmell.

City councillors will bring forward and vote on potential changes on June 30.