Calgary Council Scraps Controversial Zoning Policy

0:00It's April 8th. Welcome in. This is Canada News Today, where local news meets AI. I'm Corey with the story. Calgary City Counselors just voted 12-3 to scrap the blanket rezoning policy that's been stirring up trouble for two years. This move rolls back changes that turn single-family lots into spots for semis, row homes, and town homes across more than 300,000 parcels. Now, about two-thirds of residential land goes back to low-density zoning, sticking mostly to detached homes and suites. The decision hit after an eight-day public hearing, wrapping up parts of three weeks with 3,200 written submissions, and four, 111 speakers. Most folks back the repeal, saying the old rules killed trust in city planning and bred uncertainty in neighborhoods. Mayor Jerome Farcus called it a key step to rebuild that trust. While counselors like Andre Shabot push to start fresh with rules that fit, Calgary's vibe. Alex pointed out real housing hurdles come from slow city processes, not zoning, and

1:03this policy only split communities. They tweaked the remaining rules too, banning row homes and town homes mid-block, and capping units at three principal dwellings, plus three suites per, lot, down from four each. A city report emits this could slow redevelopment and make it tougher for young buyers, but public pushback trumped those worries. Respect the new zoning to lock in by early August, setting the stage for custom housing fixes that actually work for Calgaryans.