In the end, on the subject of infill construction in mature neighbourhoods, our courageous city council decided to take the impressively bold step of … kicking the can down the road until after they are all safely re-elected in this fall’s municipal campaign. Read More
In the end, on the subject of infill construction in mature neighbourhoods, our courageous city council decided to take the impressively bold step of … kicking the can down the road until after they are all safely re-elected in this fall’s municipal campaign. Rather than admit their new densification policy, introduced last year, has been
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In the end, on the subject of infill construction in mature neighbourhoods, our courageous city council decided to take the impressively bold step of … kicking the can down the road until after they are all safely re-elected in this fall’s municipal campaign.
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Rather than admit their new densification policy, introduced last year, has been a colossal mistake, council asked city administration to consult the public on the problems of cramming as many as 16 units onto subdivided lots and reporting back in early 2027 — a full 15 months after voters can hold councillors to account in the upcoming election. And nearly three years before the next election.
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Wow. Talk about transparency and commitment to democracy. Our councillors are really grabbing the mouse by the little fuzzy ears (as opposed to the bull by the horns).
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Council also argued against a moratorium on new mid-block infill until the policy can be reconsidered. And they voted against reducing the number of units allowed on a single lot from eight to six.
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Of course, that means by the time council gets around to reconsidering its infill policy, megadeveloments will have destroyed the character of some of the most established neighbourhoods in the city.
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It will be too late to save the character of these areas. And the value of existing, single-family homes will have been depressed.
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The majority on council will, undoubtedly, be pleased by that result because their goal is the “diversity” and “equity” of established neighbourhoods.
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Coun. Andrew Knack, who is also a candidate for mayor, implied on X in late June he was after a socioeconomic makeup of neighbourhoods such as Crestwood, Glenora, Garneau, Windsor Park and others. Moreover, infill would not be enough to achieve his goal. “The best way to achieve affordable housing in a community like Crestwood will be government-funded affordable housing,”
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Knack’s not-so-subtle message: If you don’t like infill, just wait until we start building multi-unit social housing next to your forever home.
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The only option opponents of such thinking have is to toss the councillors who voted for this duplicity. On Oct. 20, municipal election day, all of those councillors have to go.
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Coun. Tim Cartmell, who is also a mayoral candidate, has tried to make limits on infill one of the central planks in his campaign. However, Cartmell wasn’t even in the council chamber to vote on his own proposals.
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