The Case Against YIMBYism. Why encouraging more private development won't solve the housing crisis
https://newrepublic.com/article/179147/case-against-yimbyism-yimbytown-2024
Join the private Facebook Group Calgarians for a Great Calgary
https://www.facebook.com/groups/1337271716651346/
Read the Opinion Column by Steve Allan:
https://calgaryherald.com/opinion/columnists/opinion-blanket-zoning-will-ruin-character-of-neighbourhoods-like-rideau-roxboro
Summary of community concerns (RRCA):
Read the letter from Rideau-Roxboro.
Dear Mayor Gondek and City Councillors.
I am writing on behalf of the Rideau-Roxboro Community Association to express RRCA's STRONG SUPPORT of the Notice of Motion to take the question of blanket rezoning to a plebiscite in the October 2025 Municipal Election. On such a profoundly important question to the future evolution of the majority of Calgary neighbourhoods, we believe the electors and taxpayers should decide whether they should be excluded from input to those processes.
We have been provided with an excellent Summary of residents' concerns and an alternate approach to create sustainable affordable housing, and it is attached here. Please review this. Its key point is that blanket rezoning may well miss its stated target and that there are methods available to really focus limited resources to achieve that desired outcome. Intense blanket rezoning as envisioned by Council is a broad scattergun approach with too many consequences that are not desired by R-C1 and R-C2 residents, at least without an opportunity to have input to that evolution.
That is the core of RRCA's concern and is only touched on in the attached Summary. We've spoken with numerous residents that are thematically in favour of densification, if it is thoughtful and managed. But no one wishes to now be excluded from conversations about how their community and their street evolves.
Of course, this is very personal, as each family purchased their home with an expectation for the future based on the social contract that is zoning. Besides perhaps only taxation, it is the most important obligation provided by the City. The unilateral rescinding of zoning certainty in such a profound way is what has led to the City-wide anger now being expressed. We believe that people will more likely accept the results of a fairly questioned plebiscite. And residents can not accept that City Council might consider the Olympics and fluoride to be more important questions put to them.
I should mention that Rideau-Roxboro in fact has 25°/o higher-density build forms, and is part of Ward 8 which presently has only 18°/o Single Detached Dwelling coverage, well below the City average. In Ward 8, people are able to find a broad variety of build forms, and SOD is and will always be a desired option for many families' "forever homes", that are the basis of so many neighbourhoods that are the lifeblood of Calgary.
Unfortunately, some of the discussion about blanket rezoning has devolved to classism. In our neighbourhood, that is correct but in a very limited way: neighbours are concerned about having their community simply handed to the developer class and the investor class, that have no interest in the long-term impacts of wringing profits from property. There are many stories of residents now being approached by aggressive realtors and developers who seek to financialize this neighbourhood. The profit motive is strong. No one in Rideau-Roxboro is concerned about a property's user, only its use, and suggestions to the contrary have been insulting. Residents have a deep love of this community as they found it, particularly after coming together to help each other following the 2013 flood.
We wish to note that blanket rezoning results in development that is fundamentally different than that in greenfield communities. It was recently suggested that residents of such master-planned neighbourhoods are not criticizing blanket rezoning in the way seen from inner-city heritage communities, with a negative implication toward inner-city residents. Of course, every buyer in a master planned community knows exactly what and where a build form is sited (and will be for so long as they live in that community), usually in broad blocks of homes. Inner-city neighbourhoods would have no such certainty. It's a false and misleading equivalence that should not be suggested.
The RRCA has a simple request: allow its residents to continue to be engaged in the democratic mechanics to evolve this community. Dedicate the staff and resources necessary to process rezoning applications more quickly, for the benefit of all stakeholders. Do not abdicate your role as the representatives of those that elected you, and the stewards of your communities.
Please SUPPORT the Notice of Motion to take the question of blanket rezoning to a City-wide plebiscite in October 2025.
Thank you,
TONY MORRIS KC, on behalf of Rideau-Roxboro Community Association.
Resources: City of Calgary Blanket Rezoning.
Meadowlark Park Community Association
Read the Mayfair Bel Aire (MBCA) Winter Newsletter:
Visit this site with information about Rezoning: Communities Matter
https://www.communitiesmatter.info/
Blanket Rezoning: Ward 11 Facebook Event
Ward 11 Councillor Penner will host a conversation with two leaders from city administration to answer your questions about the proposal for rezoning. You can send your questions to ward11@calgary.ca.
Facebook Event: https://fb.me/e/3q9ghDBox