Edmonton city officials briefed councillors on Friday about the potential consequences of the provincial government’s infill directive, which could lead to a significant decrease in the construction of row houses and other housing projects next year. However, the full impact of the directive remains uncertain until the province provides detailed written guidelines.
During a special meeting, city officials informed councillors that the provincial orders to restrict infill and reinstate mandatory parking regulations would specifically target the city’s small-scale residential zone (RS zone) and not affect the entire zoning bylaw. Despite the lack of a formal written directive from the province, officials presented a brief report outlining the anticipated effects.
Kim Petrin, deputy city manager of urban planning and economy, expressed concerns that the mandated changes could disrupt development activities and housing unit delivery in the coming year. The uncertainties surrounding the new regulations may force industry players to adjust their projects, redesign plans, reassess financing options, and potentially alter business strategies.
Petrin highlighted projections indicating a potential decline of 280 to 360 row houses being built in Edmonton next year, resulting in a loss of 2,100 to 2,700 dwelling units and construction value decreases ranging from $420 million to $610 million. Additionally, city staff may need to reallocate resources to focus on new zoning initiatives, leading to delays in planned policy work on various areas such as landscaping, flood plain protection, wildfire resilience, solar energy, a private tree bylaw, and row house design guidelines.
Edmonton has a limited timeframe to revert to its pre-2024 zoning regulations, which prohibited row houses in single detached residential zones but permitted them in small-scale infill development zones. Mayor Andrew Knack criticized the provincial government for not providing written specifics alongside the announcement, labeling the situation as potentially embarrassing.
Observer Michael DeMoor expressed frustration over the lack of clarity from the province, emphasizing the challenges of meeting tight timelines without clear directives. Despite concerns from residents like Jan Hardstaff, who attended the meeting, opinions vary on the potential impacts of restricting certain housing developments.
In response to the situation, Hunter Baril, acting press secretary for Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, stated that the province’s recent announcement outlines the intended direction and reiterated ongoing support for the City of Edmonton as it navigates the changes.
Following discussions, council members voted 12-1 to urge the municipal affairs minister to provide the directive in writing promptly and to schedule further meetings for next week. Ward tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe was the sole dissenting vote on this motion.