City council passes infill bylaws, leaves 8-unit discussion for later date

Edmonton city council is back debating infill in the city, despite some councillors being away on holidays. CTV News Edmonton's Jeremy Thompson reports.

Following several days of tumultuous debate and public hearings, Edmonton city council has narrowly decided to revisit the bylaw allowing eight units mid-block after more consultation is done.

The motion – put forward by Mayor Amarjeet Sohi – passed 6-5 with councillors Michael Janz, Ashley Salvador, Andrew Knack, Jennifer Rice and Karen Principe in opposition.

• The information you need to know, sent directly to you: Download the CTV News App

“I put forward a motion that will allow us to continue to engage with communities,” said Sohi.

The decision will be revisited once public consultations have been completed, with a deadline at the beginning of 2027.

“Like any compromise, you’re going to have some people unhappy on all sides of the equation,” said Ward Dene Coun. Aaron Paquette. “We’re going to have a community conversation where people can come to the table and actually hear each other.”

Morgan Wallace with Edmonton Neighbourhoods United, a group of residents from several communities that say they’re concerned about certain types of infill housing since last year’s zoning bylaw change, said she was disappointed by council’s decision.

“Now we’re back to the way we were before,” Wallace told CTV News Edmonton. “We want to come to the table and have this discussion, but the reality is: what is the timeline?”

With the municipal election in October, the decision will be made by a new mayor and council.

The issue of infill housing will likely be the focus of the election while contenders Knack and Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell run for the top chair.

Although the most contentious item will be left for another day, several other changes to the infill bylaw were passed, including a reduction of side entrances and length limitations for mid-block infill developments.

The initial bylaw allowing eight units mid-block has been in effect for about 18 months. Residents in mature neighbourhoods have been pushing back, saying the infill units are eyesores that clog up parking and road arteries and compromise the character of older neighbourhoods.

Those who are for the eight unit plexes say that going down to six will deter developers as the return on investment won’t be as big.

The decision comes after a particularly heated exchange between councillors Jo-Anne Wright and Sarah Hamilton last week while they debated whether to continue the discussion into council’s summer break, which was to start Monday.

• ‘So f***ing rude … f**k you’: Edmonton councillor swears at colleague as infill debate spills into summer break

There were three empty chairs in council chambers today – Cartmell’s, Hamilton’s and Ward Anirniq Coun. Erin Rutherford – as they said they couldn’t reschedule their vacation plans. Rutherford, however, was attending virtually from Kelowna.

While Cartmell did not attend the council meeting on Tuesday in-person or virtually, he did take to social media to express his frustration with council.

“This council has been so bad at managing its agendas that the work has piled up and piled up and piled up,” said Cartmell in a video posted to social media. “And here we are, at the end of the term, with all of this work to grind through.”

“It is council’s fault because council can’t get through the work, because people are not coming to a meeting prepared to make a decision and move on.”

Cartmell previously moved to put a moratorium on the infill debate for further public discussions.