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Planning updates from September 2007 to present are included in the ENGAGE! Newsletter at this link.
To view previous issues, please email The Federation of Calgary Communities Community Planner
Calgary’s new Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 comes into full effect on June 1, 2008.
Go to www.calgary.ca/landusebylaw for information, including a PDF of the bylaw. (Each community association can receive one free hardcopy of the bylaw through the Federation. If your CA does not yet have a copy, contact the Federation office to arrange pick up.) Click on “Training” for online tutorials about the bylaw. The Partners In Planning program will be offering another course on the new land use bylaw in 2008-09.
The list of items that will be Notice Posted is changing. Click this link for a “matrix” of what will be notice posted. This is not an official document, but may be helpful to you. It does not presently include Downtown and Beltline districts. Click here
Land Use Changes for individual properties can be found at www.calgary.ca/myproperty
The Federation is a member of the Land Use Bylaw 1P2007 Sustainment Advisory Committee, a group of City, Community and Industry representatives tasked with monitoring the implementation of the new bylaw and considering changes that may required as it rolls out into the future. If your community has comments on the new bylaw, or is running into problems with aspects of it, contact the Federation planner.
Plan It Calgary is the project to create a new municipal land use and transportation plan for Calgary. As the “senior plan” for the City, it will be very influential when planning decisions are made. One goal is to accommodate the expected doubling of the city’s population over the next few decades, by directing a greater portion of that growth into the city’s existing area. Go to www.calgary.ca/planit for more info. Consultation with communities continues in Spring 2008. For more information on the dates contact planning@calgarycommunities.com
The City is proposing land use rules, planning guidelines and other initiatives regarding the siting of special care facilities, shelters and non-market housing. The City has been working with a combined group of stakeholders from community associations and social agencies. There is some disagreement from the agencies on the land use rules and guidelines, and City Council has directed more work with the stakeholders until July 2008.
Click here for the link to the City’s proposal as of April 14 2008.
Click here for the link to the Federation position.
The City has been working on a voluntary Code of Practice for the operation of construction and demolition sites, in order to reduce the impact on neighbours and communities. The Code collects the various existing rules, adds some communication requirements and good neighbour practices, and proposes a “Coordinated Response Team” to manage the Code. A report goes to Council in June 2008. So far, communities have been supportive of making the Code mandatory, while industry reps have not been supportive. Click here to read the Code as it has been proposed to date.
The Community Eco-Roundtable is a series of regular discussions around environmental issues focussed on sharing information and inspiring community association action. It is managed by a volunteer steering committee of community leaders and the Federation.
The next roundtable is June 5, 7 pm, at the Wildwood Community, 4411 Spruce Drive SW. Doors open and refreshments at 6:30. We will be discussing a “community eco-challenge” started by community leagues in Edmonton, and also hear about an “enlightening” initiative by one Calgary community. Register by June 2 to registration@calgarycommunities.com
Notes from the April 2 2008 roundtable are posted here.
The Community Heritage Roundtable is a series of regular discussions around heritage issues focussed on sharing information and inspiring community association action. It is managed by a volunteer steering committee of community leaders and the Federation. For more information on the next roundtable send a note to planning@calgarycommunities.com
In addition to consulting directly with Community Associations the Federation of Calgary Communities represents community interests on external committees, including the Joint Use Site Planning Team, the Environmental Advisory Committee, and the Safety Audit Task Force. We also represent community interests on projects as they arise. We try to ensure that communities are aware of any proposed policy changes, and that community interests are brought forward for consideration.
In collaboration with the City of Calgary, the Federation of Calgary Communities has produced a Planning Education Video and handbook to assist communities dealing with development. "A Community Guide to the Planning Process" is presently being updated and the new version will be distributed to community associations in the fall of 2008. If you would like to view the current PDF version click here.
The Partners in Planning Program (PIP) is a planning skills certificate training program offered by the Federation of Calgary Communities in partnership with The City of Calgary.
Core courses are:
- The Basics of Implementation Planning
- Understanding the Land Use Bylaw
- Presentation Skills for Council and the Subdivision & Development Appeal Board
Elective courses are also offered each year.
Participants will receive a certificate after the completion of three (3) core courses and one (1) elective.
Award Winning Program
The Partners in Planning Program is the 2002 winner of the Peter Bloodoff, MCIP Award for Planning Excellence in the category of Impact on the Profession from the Canadian Institute of Planners.
The program has also been awarded the "Award of Merit" for the 2002 Alberta Association Canadian Institute of Planners - Planning Awards.
For more information or to register in this program, please go to: http://www.calgarycommunities.com/FCCServices/workshop_planning.php.
Overcoming Barriers to Sustainable Urban Development: Toward Smart Growth in Calgary
Sustainable Calgary's Smart Growth report presents the principles of Smart Growth as a sustainable alternative to the current pattern of new suburban development in Calgary. According to the report, our current sprawling form of development poses significant threats to the environment, our physical health and sense of community.
The report claims that despite several efforts thus far to implement more sustainable urban growth, significant changes have not materialized in Calgary due to an entrenched pattern of growth based auto-dependent development. In order to produce systemic change developers, public officials and citizens must take action to overcome the path-dependency and specific barriers that hinder change. The Smart Growth report presents ten recommended actions to accelerate the transition toward sustainable development and catalyze debate regarding Calgary’s urban form. The recommended priority actions include:
- Promote Smart Growth through a public engagement and education campaign
- Reform planning regulations and municipal policies so they clearly support more sustainable forms of growth
- Allow for greater public involvement in the planning of new communities
- Provide incentives that encourage developers to implement Smart Growth initiatives
- Create a citizens’ panel to review Calgary’s electoral system
Click here to view the PDF version of the report.
Higher-Density Development – Myths and Facts
The Urban Land Institute (ULI) Higher-Density Development: Myths and Facts report examines widespread misconceptions related to higher-density development and seeks to dispel them with relevant facts and information. According to many smart growth proponents, North American cities cannot continue to develop in the same form that dominated urban growth for the second half of the 20th Century. In order to achieve more sustainable urban growth our cities will have to start growing up rather than continuing to grow out, which can only be accomplished through increased density. This report demonstrates many of the advantages and drawbacks of higher-density development compared to the alternative low-density development.
Click here for the PDF version of the report.
Sierra Club Building Better Report
This Sierra Club report highlights the best new development projects in United States in 2005 based on their ability to offer transportation choices, revitalize neighbourhoods, and preserve local values. The report also draws attention to the various stakeholders – architects, developers, local municipal officials, activists – responsible for making these innovative projects a reality.
Click here for the full PDF version of the report.
The New Suburbanism: A Realists Guide to the American Future
The Planning Centre released this influential report co-authored by well-known urban commentator Joel Kotkin on “New Surburbanism” in November 2005. Many people are now familiar with the concept of New Urbanism, but this report presents a similar, but alternative approach to community building. “New Suburbanism” is based on the premise that suburbs are good places for many people and will continue to be the primary focus for future growth in America. However, the challenge for all stakeholders in the development process is how to accommodate this future suburban growth in a better, more efficient manner than the status quo. The proposed “New Suburbanism” is envisioned as a practical and beneficial way to address fundamental issues facing suburbia by supporting the development of semi-autonomous villages throughout the suburban environment. In supporting the village concept, “New Suburbanism” shares many similar objectives as New Urbanism; however, “New Suburbanism” reflects a more flexible and practical design and policy agenda.
Click here for the PDF version of the report.
The Federation of Calgary Communities research paper examines the Resident Association (RA) trend in the United States in order to conduct a comparative analysis with the RA trend in Calgary. Resident Associations or Homeowner’s Associations are becoming increasingly common in North America, particularly in new housing developments in the United States. Common features shared by all RAs are the use of collective property ownership, mandatory membership fees and community rules and bylaws that guide the operation of the governing association.
RAs in Calgary have a much shorter history and are less privately structured compared to many RAs in the United States, where extreme private areas such as gated communities are more common. Originally Calgary RAs were created by developers in order to manage large recreational amenities. The role of RAs in Calgary is expanding, so that now many are assuming similar responsibilities to Calgary Community Associations. Additionally, there is an apparent shift towards an increase in private communities with the development of community-sized bareland condominiums in the Calgary region that are similar to many American RAs. Bareland condominiums, such as Elbow Valley and Heritage Pointe, are very similar to American style RAs as they are responsible for additional services, such as street repairs and garbage pickup, and property controls.
The report presents several key recommendations for existing Calgary RAs and their relationship with established Community Associations as well as presenting recommendations for future RAs that address their limitations. The primary goal of the recommendations is to generate dialogue on how best to address the issues associated with RAs in Calgary. Calgarians must ensure that we do not follow the example of the United States, where the private community trend occurred without a thorough evaluation and consideration of the social, economic and political impacts of RA developments.
Click here to register and view the PDF version of the report.
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