Ward 3 Town Hall: Let's Talk About Citywide Rezoning - March 19, 2026
- Feb 25
- 4 min read
Updated: Feb 26
Hey, Ward 3 - Let's Talk About Citywide Rezoning.
Residents are invited to a Ward 3 Town Hall - meet your city councillor, Andrew Yule, and learn about and share your input on the Proposed Repeal of Citywide Rezoning.
Event Details:
Date: Thursday, March 19, 2026
Time: 6:30 – 8:00 PM Location: Vivo - 11950 Country Village Link NE, Collaboratory Room
Your Voice Matters
In 2024 City Council approved citywide rezoning in response to Calgary’s housing crisis. The purpose was to enable an increase in housing supply and housing choices, and was one of 98 recommendations made in the Home is Here Housing Strategy.
On December 15, 2025, Council initiated the process to consider a repeal of citywide rezoning. The current land use districts and development rules will remain in place until Council makes its final decision at the public hearing, beginning March 23, 2026.
What is Rezoning?
Zoning determines what types of housing can be built on land across Calgary. Before rezoning, building a duplex or row house on a lot zoned exclusively for single-family homes required applying for a land use change - a process that cost both time and money.
Rezoning was introduced to help speed up home construction timelines and reduce upfront costs. Prior to rezoning, nearly all land use change requests (~95%) were approved by Council, so changing the default zone made practical sense. The goals were: increase density rather than continue expanding Calgary's footprint outward, make services and infrastructure more affordable, cut administrative red tape, and boost housing supply and choice to meet our city's growing needs.
The flip side is that one size rarely fits all, and the tension and resistance we've seen in some communities have made it clear there is room to refine our approach and achieve better outcomes.
How Does Rezoning Impact Ward 3?
In Ward 3, citywide rezoning has not changed how our communities are currently being built. Most of our neighbourhoods, particularly those developed after 2013, were planned with mixed-density zoning (R-G) throughout, supporting a balanced variety of housing type and choice. Any townhouses or duplexes you see here have gone through a land use change application and received Council approval.
That said, while Ward 3 is still a relatively young community and not yet ready for older homes to be redeveloped, residents want confidence and clarity about how their neighbourhoods may change over time.
Below is a ward-level breakdown showing that rezoning has been concentrated almost entirely in inner-city and established neighbourhoods, with zero housing units being built under the new zoning bylaw in Ward 3.
What Are the Pros and Cons of Rezoning?
Some key benefits of citywide rezoning include:
Time & Cost Savings: Over the past year, without citywide rezoning, Council would have needed to hear approximately 460 separate land use change applications and public hearings for RC-G developments - each costing the roughly $50,000. This streamlined process has also shaved off months in development timelines for new builds. Both offer a significant cost savings to taxpayers and home buyers, and new approaches must consider ways to avoid losing those efficiencies.
Increased Housing Supply & Diversity: The policy has facilitated an increase in diverse, ground-oriented housing options (townhouses, duplexes, rowhouses) rather than just single-detached homes, with over 470 development permits enabled by late 2025. Often referred to as the "Missing Middle," these housing types offer a range of choices and price points that have helped many Calgarians find housing that fits their life stage, budget, and preferred neighbourhood.
Faster Approval & Building Timelines: The removal of a required land-use change for RC-G has lowered development complexity, with notable year-over-year improvements in both approval and build timelines.
Infrastructure Efficiency: Encouraging infill development in established neighbourhoods allows the City to make better use of existing infrastructure - roads, transit, utilities, and civic amenities - rather than relying on greenfield development, which requires building and expanding all of that from scratch.
Some concerns we have heard:
Infrastructure Strain: Concerns that older, established neighborhoods may not have the water, sewage, or electrical capacity to handle increased density. Multiple units replacing a single-family home may put added pressure on aging infrastructure. Concerns around increased demand for local services like schools, transit, and recreation have also been raised.
Parking Concerns: Increased density has led to some localized parking concerns as residents of new developments often utilize street parking when onsite parking is inadequate or unavailable.
Loss of Tree Canopy and Green Space: Fears that increased construction will lead to the reduction of mature tree canopies and green spaces in residential areas.
Reduced Public Input: The removal of the requirement for public hearings on RC-G land-use redesignation applications means neighbors have fewer opportunities to voice concerns on this type of development.
Ineffectiveness on Affordability: Skepticism that rezoning has actually led to an increase in affordable housing.
What happens next?
To fully repeal Blanket Rezoning, Council must hold a Public Hearing. This includes citywide advertising, resident notification, and a public hearing where residents can speak directly to Council.
This meeting has been scheduled to begin March 23rd, and is expected to run most of the week.
Ahead of the Public Hearing, City Administration has been directed to prepare amendments to the current zoning bylaw to reintroduce the original 12 land-use districts. This work will include an infrastructure assessment and updates to parking rules related to private property.
Get Involved
Attend the Ward 3 Town Hall - March 19
Your input is important. Please feel free to share any questions you may have about rezoning through the RSVP form. If you cannot attend the Town Hall, you can still submit questions about rezoning through the RSVP form. We will share a summary of the event as well as answers to common questions asked on our website afterwards.
Space is limited, so please RSVP to secure your spot and share your questions.
Register to Speak at the Rezoning Public Hearing - Beginning March 23
Calgarians are also welcome to participate in the Rezoning Public Hearing, beginning March 23.
You are able to speak, either in-person or over the phone, or you can submit written comments to be included as part of the official public record. For more information or to register/submit comments, please visit: Public Submission to City Clerk's Office
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