ON THE AGENDA

Stephanie Swensrude

This week, council will debate rezoning applications for a six-storey building in the northwest, a mixed-use development in Parkview, and a 25-storey tower in Windsor Park, as well as hearing updates about relationships with other levels of government.

There is a private audit election committee meeting on May 4, a public hearing on May 5, and a non-regular council meeting on May 6.

Here are some key items on the agenda:

• Nova Builders has proposed rezoning a parcel of industrial land at 13640 142 Street NW to allow for a six-storey residential building. The site is located 23 metres away from an active CN Rail right-of-way, a corridor that may transport dangerous goods. The Railway Association of Canada recommends a minimum setback of 30 metres from a rail right-of-way to residential development, and administration wrote in its report that the setback can be achieved. The application also includes an amendment to the Northwest District Plan to change the designation of the lot and a commercial development to the west to facilitate future redevelopment.
• Council will review a rezoning application in Parkview that has been revised twice since its initial submission. The landowner has proposed to rezone the property at the corner of 91 Avenue NW and 142 Street NW to allow for a mixed-use development. More than 300 people gave input on the rezoning, with most concerns related to the predominantly single-family development in the neighbourhood, existing traffic and parking congestion, and privacy and shadowing impacts on neighbouring properties. Administration said it supports the application because the property is within a secondary corridor, and it will help people complete their daily needs within proximity to local businesses, open space, school, and active transportation options.
• Westrich Pacific’s development in Windsor Park is set to return to a public hearing after being referred back to administration. The developer has proposed rezoning the southern portion of the property to the mixed-use zone, which would allow for a building up to 25 storeys tall, and the northern part to the neighbourhood mixed-use zone, which would allow for a building up to four storeys tall. Many residents oppose the development, arguing it’s too tall and will cast a shadow across the neighbourhood. Some have shown support for the development due to its proximity to the University of Alberta campus.
• The City of Edmonton’s urban growth and open space department has proposed rezoning a lot in Henderson Estates to allow for a school. The rezoning, if approved, would allow the Conseil scolaire Centre-Nord to use the property for a francophone elementary school. Some residents said they support the school in principle but have concerns that include traffic and parking congestion. The application also includes amending the Whitemud District Plan.
• Administration will give an annual update on Alberta Municipalities, and both private and public updates on intergovernmental relations.
• Audit committee will meet in private to select its public members.

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• Edmonton property owners will receive their 2026 property tax notices in the mail this month, with payment due June 30th. City Council approved a 6.9% property tax increase for 2026 - the final year of its current four-year budget cycle - but the addition of a higher provincial education tax levy brings the effective increase for most homeowners to 7.7%. The City's portion of the increase funds a range of things including affordable housing, new transit buses, and expanded policing. 
• Council has voted to reduce the maximum height for infill housing from 10.5 metres to 9.5 metres, with the change set to take effect in August. City officials say the adjustment still allows for three-storey developments, but may require design changes such as lower ceilings or deeper basements. The decision follows ongoing debate over how to balance neighbourhood character with the need for more housing density and affordability. Supporters of the change argue it responds to resident concerns about building scale in mature communities, while critics warn it could lead to smaller, less livable units. Some Councillors and community representatives also expressed concern that repeated adjustments to infill rules are creating uncertainty for builders and slowing down development. Others on Council cautioned that more restrictive approaches may be emerging as residents turn to private legal covenants to limit redevelopment. 
• Ward 2 (Anirniq) Councillor Erin Rutherford is calling the proposed Metro Line LRT extension to Castle Downs "a pipe dream" and asking Administration to identify lower-cost alternatives. The extension would run north through Rutherford's ward, past the Blatchford neighbourhood to Castle Downs, and eventually to the City of St. Albert - a project that has been deferred repeatedly over the years as costs have climbed. Rutherford tabled a motion last week asking Administration to prepare a memo on alternative transit options for the corridor, including bus rapid transit or a redesigned LRT alignment at a lower price point. She said she is open to all options and described the current LRT proposal as prohibitively expensive. Administration has not yet indicated when the requested memo will be delivered to Council.
• A disability advocate is supporting Councillor Aaron Paquette’s push for stricter rules on where e-scooters can be parked, citing ongoing safety and accessibility concerns for people using mobility aids. The advocate says improperly parked scooters can create real barriers on sidewalks, sometimes forcing users to detour into unsafe areas or rely on assistance to get past obstacles. The proposed motion would require designated parking or geo-fenced drop-off zones, with penalties or charges for riders who leave scooters outside approved areas. The councillor behind the proposal argues that while e-scooters are a useful transportation option, clearer rules are needed to balance convenience with accessibility. Scooter companies have indicated they are open to working with the City and say they also want to avoid blocking sidewalks or creating hazards. 
• The City is facing a projected $63.6 million shortfall tied to the Quarters Downtown Community Revitalization Levy, as expected property tax growth and private investment have not materialized at the pace originally forecast. The CRL was designed to fund infrastructure upgrades by borrowing against future tax revenue, and it has already supported about $100 million in public projects, including parks, streetscapes, and building conversions. While officials note the area has attracted over $450 million in private development activity, no new CRL-funded capital projects will move forward due to the revenue gap. City representatives and Councillors say the infrastructure built so far still has long-term value, even if the timing of development has lagged expectations. At the same time, community voices are raising concerns about cultural erasure and the loss of historic identity in the neighbourhood, particularly related to Chinatown’s presence and visibility. Some stakeholders argue the area has been stigmatized by the concentration of social services, while others emphasize its existing cultural activity and potential for renewal. City officials say there is still an opportunity to strengthen cultural identity through future planning decisions and community engagement.