Calgary election reignites rezoning debate: Here’s what candidates are saying

Where do Calgary candidates stand on blanket rezoning? Jordan Kanygin finds out.

Nearly every candidate running for mayor in Calgary says, if elected, they’ll either scrap blanket rezoning in the city or make major changes to the bylaw.

The issue that was subject of the longest public hearing in Calgary’s history last year is becoming one of the ballot box issues as voters decide who to support this month.

While some groups are advocating for the strategy to continue as is, others say it needs to be rescinded and reworked.

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“I think what we’re hearing from the people who are interested in this topic is they want to repeal and reset,” said Rusty Miller, who is part of Calgarians for Thoughtful Growth, a group that has taken its challenge of the bylaw changes to Alberta’s appeals court.

“My position would be, this is an issue that we settled with a public hearing -- multiple public hearings over this council’s term,” said Robert Tremblay with the Calgary Climate Hub, which was one of several organizations that rallied on the steps of City Hall in April of 2024 to urge council to pass the upzoning changes.

In May of last year, councillors approved the changes in a 9-6 vote.

The land-use amendment saw the city will transition properties zoned as R-C1 districts, which allowed single-detached homes on them, to R-CG to also allow for townhomes and duplexes.

Candidates talk repealing, fixing zoning

With a municipal election less than three weeks away, CTV News asked all nine mayoral candidates what their stance is on blanket rezoning and a future housing strategy.

Below are their responses in alphabetical order.

Jeff Davison: “I would repeal the blanket rezoning in favor of moving forward with more community minded development,” Davison said. “I want to see new community growth. I want to see transit-oriented growth. I want to see us develop as a city better working with communities to decide where and when density should happen in our communities.”

Sarah Elder: “My approach is to repeal and replace blanket rezoning. Not to think of it as a blanket, but as a patchwork quilt. We definitely do need more homes in Calgary, but where they go, we need to think about where they make the most sense, and that’s just not everywhere.”

Jeromy Farkas: “I’m committed to repealing and replacing the blanket rezoning bylaw. We still have to build. And that’s why my 25-point plan calls for restoring certainty to everybody involved in the housing sector. Not just homeowners, but renters, non-profits, builders and city staff, too. I’m focused on building the greatest amount of density closest to LRT stations near employment education centres.”

Jyoti Gondek: “When it comes to zoning, I wanted to ensure that, as people are aging in their communities and if they need to downsize, they’re able to find something in that neighborhood that they love. And for those folks that have said to me, their adult children have moved away, gotten a degree, and started a career, but want to come back. They can’t find housing in the communities that they grew up in. I want to ensure that that’s available for everyone to have a thriving city.”

Jaeger Gustafson: “We’re going to be amending the rezoning and we’re going to make sure that the communities are respected. First, because these were promises that were made in the community when people joined Calgary. And that needs to the council has to stand for, protecting those promises and standing up.”

Larry Heather: “I would revoke the blanket zoning. One of the highest tiers of desirable living is R1, R2 communities and they’re eventually breaking up all of these communities and introducing a different type of style.”

Grant Prior: “We can still amend, so I don’t want to get rid of the rezoning, because once you’ve got something going through and I think everybody will agree, if you can get rid of government red tape, that’s a plus because that rarely happens.”

Sonya Sharp: “My pledge is to repeal blanket rezoning, reinstate what was. Which means that you’re bringing people back to the process and speaking to their elected official and reforming the planning department in the processing times.”

Brian Thiessen: “I’m not one of those that says just repeal blanket zoning and then figure it out. That’s a recipe for further disaster. I’m going to do the hard work of fixing zoning. So I’m going to listen to Calgarians when they have valid concerns about their neighborhoods,” Thiessen said. “I’m going to refer it to the housing committee, take the feedback of Calgarians on zoning and we’re going to fix it.”