Our Review of the Zoning Bylaw Amendments
Our City Council Advisory Committee is dedicated to providing guidance on City policies and initiatives, especially those related to gender and equity. The Policy subcommittee reviews city policies that significantly affect women and gender-diverse populations, with housing being one of our main areas of focus.
Next week, amendments to the Zoning Bylaw relating to infill and multi-family homes will be presented to Urban Planning Committee (UPC) following public feedback during recent elections and city council public hearings.
For those who aren’t familiar with the term “zoning”, it determines land use—such as residential, commercial, industrial developments, and green spaces—not who uses it.
In 2024, Edmonton passed progressive new zoning regulations, the first major update in 60 years, amid rapid population growth and an ongoing affordable housing crisis.
The proposed amendments could reduce permitted infill development. However, city administration did not have adequate time for a thorough Gender-Based Analysis (GBA), nor a comprehensive impact assessment on the current zoning bylaw. In our research, we’ve learned that these changes may negatively affect women and gender diverse groups, especially racialized single women, who are often most in need of core housing.
Given the lack of comprehensive analysis and consultation, we urge council to delay amendment decisions until complete data is available.
Please see our letter, and join us at the Urban Planning Committee on Feb 9/10 (click to view the meeting agenda).
