Has anyone actually read what is being proposed?
https://www.calgary.ca/planning/proj...r-housing.html
Quote:
What does rezoning mean?
If Council approves the proposed initiative, rezoning will mean:- It will be easier, and legal, to build various types of homes in our communities. This includes single-detached, semi-detached, row houses, and townhouses.
- Properties that currently only allow single or semi-detached homes will be rezoned to R-CG, R-G or H-GO.
- Proposed (re)developments will still need to go through the development permit and approval process. This is where all aspects of the development will be reviewed in detail.
What does rezoning not mean?
Rezoning does not mean:- Property owners will be prevented from replacing existing homes with new, single-detached homes. Existing single-detached homes will also not be removed.
- Removing single-family homes or only supporting row house developments. Rezoning will increase housing options. It intends to meet the demand from Calgarians for homes with front doors at ground level (not apartments).
- Removing the development permit process. The landowner will need to apply for (re)development and building permits. This is to ensure the proposed new home(s) remain compatible with the surrounding community.
- That apartment buildings can be built on parcels where single-detached homes are today.
- The proposed rezoning to R-CG, R-G, and H-GO will include existing parks or green spaces. While parks are being proposed for rezoning (i.e. shifting from R-C1 to R-CG), this does not mean they are being proposed for development. They will remain park spaces even if they are rezoned.
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It's not like row houses are going to be popping up everywhere. They still have to go through the development approval process and would still need to make sense in context.
This seems like it's more about red tape reduction than anything because property owners won't need to go through the extra step of getting their property rezoned prior to applying for the redevelopment.
There's an old house near me (post-war bungalow on a huge lot) that sold last year. The new owners first had to apply to get it rezoned (which -- like almost all such applications -- was approved) and now they have another application to build a row house on the land. With blanket rezoning, they could have skipped the first step and gone straight to the development permit.