"Your turn" is Taproot's weekly collection of public engagement opportunities in the Edmonton region. Watch this space every Friday for opportunities to make your views known.
The City of Edmonton is collecting feedback until Jan. 29 on proposed amendments to the zoning bylaw.
Last fall, city council asked administration to prepare potential amendments to maximum unit counts and building height in mature residential neighbourhoods, and to explore a way to protect trees on private property.
Changes are proposed to the small-scale residential (RS) and small-medium scale residential (RSM) zones. Administration suggests amending the RS zone, used in most residential neighbourhoods within Anthony Henday Drive, to reduce the maximum number of units on a mid-block site from eight to six. The previous city council narrowly voted in July 2025 to keep the unit cap at eight until more public consultation could be done. Administration is also proposing to increase the minimum lot area required per unit. That could have the effect of pushing the unit cap down further.
City staff is also looking for feedback on the maximum allowed height in the RS zone. The current RS zone allows buildings of 10.5 metres, or about three storeys. Administration considered three ways to reduce the impact of height on adjacent properties, but it said it doesn't recommend changing regulations.
Administration recommended against a bylaw to regulate trees on private property, a stance that it has held since at least 2023.
There are also proposed changes aimed at bigger infill projects outside of nodes and corridors, where administration is planning for the most growth. It recommends changing both the district policy and the RSM zone to limit where the zone would be supported. Rezoning applications for up to four storeys outside nodes and corridors would mainly be supported only at sites that are both near a mass transit station and along an arterial road, or on a corner site along an arterial road. City staff would also shift away from a strict checklist toward a more flexible set of factors for staff to use when evaluating rezoning applications.
Edmontonians are invited to provide feedback online until Jan. 29. A summary will be presented to councillors at an urban planning committee meeting on Feb. 10.
Edmonton is collecting feedback on potential changes to the city's zoning bylaw that could affect infill development. (Stephanie Swensrude)
Here are some other opportunities to provide input in the Edmonton metro region:
- Jan. 27: St. Albert city council will hold a public hearing on a slate of changes to its land use bylaw. The changes include allowing denser housing in its established neighbourhoods and reducing parking minimums for some housing forms.
- Jan. 28-29: The City of Leduc will hold open houses to hear from residents of areas the city wants to annex from Leduc County.
- Until Jan. 30: The City of Edmonton is gathering feedback on a draft of its Climate Action Plan Update (2027-2030).
- Until Feb. 1: Strathcona County residents are invited to share their thoughts on policing priorities on the Strathcona County RCMP & Enforcement Services Priorities Survey.
- Until Feb. 2: Leduc RCMP have issued a Policing Priorities Survey.
- Until Feb. 6: The City of Edmonton wants to hear from those involved in food and organics as well as construction and demolition on its Industrial, Commercial and Institutional Waste Roadmap.
- Until Feb. 7: Transport Canada is gathering input on a pedestrian bridge and bank armouring on the Sturgeon River.
- Until Feb. 8: The City of Edmonton is gathering residents' thoughts on the draft design for Wîhkwêntôwin ᐄᐧᐦᑫᐧᐣᑑᐃᐧᐣ Neighbourhood Renewal.
And here are a couple of other chances to contribute:
- Until Jan. 25: The City of Edmonton is seeking to fill vacancies on several civic agencies.
- Until Feb. 6: Parkland County is seeking to fill vacancies on several boards and committees.