Urbanization and Calgary Rezoning Bylaw
October 13, 2025 By: Jeff van der Ploeg
In August 2024, Calgary’s City Council approved a broad rezoning policy that allows multiple-family homes, such as apartments and townhouses, in nearly every residential neighbourhood. This change sparked debates between supporters of affordable housing and densification, and those who prefer targeted development permits to preserve community character. From my perspective, I support affordable housing but also value the character and charm of mature communities. Fortunately, Steinberg (2019) reminded me that cities are living ecological communities where we continually reshape our environment. The rezoning plan, aimed at helping lower-income residents, could also threaten mature trees and neighbourhood green spaces. These arguments highlight the advantages and disadvantages of urban development versus sustainable progress and are key election topics in the upcoming municipal elections.
References
CBC News. (2024, August 6). Calgary council approves blanket rezoning plan to allow townhomes and rowhouses citywide. CBC News. Retrieved from: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/calgary-blanket-rezoning-passes-august-2024-1.7258612
Steinberg, T. (2019). Down to earth: Nature’s role in American history (4th ed.). Oxford University Press.
I appreciate how you hold both of these concerns at once rather than framing the issue as housing versus the environment. Your point about mature trees and neighbourhood green space really connects to Steinberg’s idea that cities are ecological systems shaped by cumulative decisions, not just policy intentions. It also raises an important question about who bears the environmental costs of densification, especially when green space is unevenly distributed across a city. I found your reflection useful because it highlights how urban sustainability is often about trade-offs rather than clear solutions.
Hello Jeff,
I found your choice of topic, about the current housing crisis and the tension between building new homes while preserving older heritage houses, fascinating. I live in Vancouver, and I often notice areas where modern apartment buildings dominate the skyline, yet a few heritage homes remain. Sometimes, these heritage homes appear almost “squished” between two massive high-rises, creating quite a striking sight! One example that comes to mind is Leslie’s house, which even reminds me of the Pixar movie Up. I’ve attached the link if you want to check it out. Your topic feels very relevant, and it’s a perfect illustration of what you mentioned about the “advantages and disadvantages of urban development versus sustainable progress.”
https://evelazarus.com/leslie-house/