Calgary councillors discussing long-term growth blueprint

Calgary city council will review the city's new long-term plan, which includes several changes meant to support growth as more people begin to live here. (File)

City council will spend Tuesday getting a detailed look at a long-term plan that will eventually guide the city’s growth.

The draft Calgary Plan combines and replaces the city’s existing municipal development plan and Calgary transportation plan, creating a single framework for future land-use, transportation and growth decisions.

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City administration says the plan is intended to modernize policies, simplify decision-making and cut red tape.

Officials say Calgary is growing faster than previously expected and that a new planning framework is needed to help accommodate future residents while maintaining affordability, mobility and quality of life.

More than 47,900 Calgarians have participated in engagement sessions since 2023, helping shape priorities that include housing choice and affordability, transit-oriented development, parks and natural areas, infrastructure and economic growth.

The draft plan includes several long-term targets.

By 2050, the city hopes to see half of all new housing built in already developed areas and to double the downtown population to 100,000 residents.

It also aims to have half of all homes located within 600 metres of a major transit station and to have 40 per cent of all trips made by walking, wheeling or transit.

Tuesday’s strategic meeting does not include a final vote on the document. Instead, councillors are being asked to provide feedback on the proposed direction before administration conducts another round of public engagement.

Administration will then bring the proposed Calgary Plan back to council for a public hearing no later than January 2027.