Calgary committee backs motion to scrap blanket rezoning ahead of full council vote

Calgary’s executive committee has endorsed a motion from Mayor Jeromy Farkas to roll back the city’s blanket rezoning bylaw, setting the stage for a final decision by full council on December 15. The move begins the formal process to undo a housing policy approved earlier this year under former mayor Jyoti Gondek.

The bylaw, adopted in April 2024, allowed fourplexes and rowhouses on all residential lots without requiring individual public hearings or neighbourhood-level consultation. Council approved the changes despite strong opposition from residents who argued the citywide approach would increase density in areas where homeowners had already invested in lower-density living.

If council approves the repeal next month, administration would begin unwinding the rezoning framework and restoring the previous system of site-specific applications. Supporters of the motion say the committee’s decision marks an important early step for the new mayor and his executive team as they respond to public concerns about planning transparency and neighbourhood impacts.

Housing policy, zoning reform and population growth pressures continue to be significant issues in Calgary, where communities have called for clearer engagement processes and more balanced approaches to accommodating new development.