Rezoning for Housing Passes!
With some compromises, the city will now allow single family, duplex, and row-houses to be built city-wide.
Last night, after weeks of public hearings and after many attempts to kill or maim the rezoning plan, Council passed Rezoning for Housing and gave three readings to the bylaw. Come August, the city will no longer be primarily zoned for single-family homes.
As we’ve said before, this change is actually pretty boring. And yet, it became a political football: We saw the beginnings of mayoral campaigns, we saw misinformation spread like wildfire, and we saw personal attacks both towards our volunteers and to the elected officials just trying to do their jobs.
In the end, though, rational thought backed by research and evidence won out. Nine of the fifteen members of council made a decision for the present and future of our city in the face of public anger and vitriol.
You made a difference
None of this would be possible without the strong, well-informed, well-articulated presence from you and from people across the city who came out and showed council that the support for this is there, and that missing voices must also be heard.
If you came to city council and spoke, thank you.
If you provided your written feedback, thank you.
If you tweeted or emailed or talked to your councillor, thank you.
If you talked to a neighbour or friend about rezoning, thank you.
If you joined our Discord and participated in the live chat, thank you.
Less than a year ago, More Neighbours Calgary was formed when Kathryn and Willem got annoyed enough at Council’s inaction on housing to start a discord. Now our Discord is 400 strong and growing.
This process was exhausting. Many of us volunteered our time, adjusted our schedules, and put our lives aside because we believed that this change matters.
And with your help, one of the 98 recommendations from the Housing Strategy has been implemented.
Onward to the next.