Calgary Minute: Unexpected Award, Rental Regulations, and Glenmore Rezoning Rejected

Calgary Minute - Your weekly one-minute summary of Calgary politics

This Week In Calgary:

• On Tuesday, there will be a Strategic Meeting of Council at 9:00 am. The agenda includes a summary of mid-cycle budget adjustments and an update on the City’s 2024 housing progress.
  
  
• The Infrastructure and Planning Committee will meet on Wednesday at 9:30 am. This will be one to watch, as the Committee will hear the results of a report on the Bearspaw South Feeder Main pipe investigation. The report is 596 pages, yet states that it is “not intended to be a root cause analysis.” Also on the agenda is the controversial “Calgary Plan” which is intended to replace the Municipal Development Plan and Calgary Transportation Plan as Calgary’s highest-level land use and mobility plan.
  
  
• On Thursday, at 1:00 pm, the Calgary Planning Commission will meet. There are several land use amendments on the agenda.

Last Week In Calgary:

• City Council has rejected a proposed rezoning plan for the Glenmore Landing Shopping Centre that would have allowed six high-rise condo towers housing approximately 2,200 residents. The decision followed extensive public hearings where many residents voiced concerns about over-densification, traffic congestion, and potential environmental risks to the nearby Glenmore Reservoir. Proponents argued the project aligned with transit-oriented development goals and City planning priorities, but critics, including some Councillors, disagreed. The plan's proximity to critical water resources and existing infrastructure challenges were key issues.
  
  
• Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek has been named Mayor of the Year by Municipal World, an Ontario-based municipal politics magazine. This marks the first time the award has been given in the magazine's more than 100-year history. The recognition highlights her leadership during Calgary’s water crisis, efforts to revitalize downtown, and work on creating safer streets. While Gondek expressed surprise and gratitude for the honour, she continues to face public approval challenges, with only 18% of Calgarians supporting her re-election in a recent poll. Municipal World's editor emphasized the demanding nature of the Mayor’s role and commended Gondek’s ability to navigate tough issues, describing her selection as a unanimous choice following thorough research and first-hand observations.
  
  
• The City has proposed new regulations for short-term rentals, including higher fees, stricter licensing requirements, and a potential moratorium on new licences for non-primary residences when the rental vacancy rate falls below 2.5%. These proposals follow a two-year study by the University of Calgary, which revealed the city had nearly 5,000 active short-term rental listings in late 2023, and only 15% of them were permanent. Despite officials stating that short-term rentals are not a major issue, this is intended to be a proactive measure aimed at preventing future housing challenges. The changes are set to be debated by Council later this month.

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