On the agenda: District energy, downtown parking, construction

This week, council will hear options for the future of the downtown district energy system, consider a rezoning for a parking lot in the core, and learn more about administration's proposed business-friendly construction policy.

There is an audit committee meeting on Nov. 2, a public hearing on Nov. 3, and an infrastructure committee meeting on Nov. 4.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• Infrastructure committee will hear three options for the future of the downtown district energy system, which provides heating services to the Winspear Centre and its future expansion, Chancery Hall, and Century Place. Council approved expanding the utility to the Stanley A. Milner library, Citadel Theatre, and City Hall, but that work was paused. The first option is to continue with the status quo and expand to the three other city-owned buildings. The second option would involve pausing the expansion and looking for alternate ways to expand with a minimal amount of city funding. The third option involves no expansion. Options 2 and 3 would eliminate the need for about $17.8 million in tax-supported debt plus $4 million for building modifications. The second option also involves exploring connections with privately owned downtown buildings. Administration said district energy systems could have a large impact on greenhouse gas emissions, as buildings represent 35% of the community's emissions and nearly half of the emissions from city assets.
• Council will consider a rezoning application for a lot at 103 Avenue and 106 Street NW to allow a surface parking lot to continue operating. City council voted in 2024 to regulate surface parking lots downtown and in other core neighbourhoods by requiring enhancements such as landscaping, barrier-free parking, and lighting in order to obtain a development permit. The subject parking lot is paved, which means it would be allowed to operate until June 30, 2036, if council approves the rezoning.
• Administration is developing a business-friendly construction policy and will ask council if financial compensation for businesses impacted by construction should be included in it. A report set to be presented to infrastructure committee said administration is taking an approach based on lessons from similar policies in Calgary and Montreal and will consider preventative site management, traffic disruption coordination, and business compensation. A draft policy is expected to be presented to council in spring 2027. Councillors in the previous term voted down a proposal to compensate businesses along Stony Plain Road, adjacent to the construction of the Valley Line West LRT.

Here are more key items:

• The City of Edmonton's annual corporate strategic risk profile has identified artificial intelligence governance and the environmental regulatory landscape as emerging risks. The top four risks projected for 2027 are an infrastructure funding deficit, the non-residential tax base, political uncertainties, and climate-strained assets and services.
• 4-Way Electrical has applied to rezone the property beside its existing location in King Edward Park so it can expand its business operations. The subject property is a multiplex at 7120 77 Avenue NW. The proposed business employment zone includes a larger setback of six metres from the site's abutting residential property.
• Hasco Developments has proposed rezoning four lots in Pleasantview to allow for a seven-storey building. The site is located at the corner of 60 Avenue and 106 Street NW. Administration said it does not support the application because the property is located outside of a node or corridor and the proposed scale and height are incompatible with the current and planned uses in the neighbourhood.
• An audit found that the Edmonton Transit Service keeps accurate, complete, and reliable ridership data. The auditor recommended that the service regularly review who has access to the data to reduce the risk of unauthorized use and to preserve the accuracy of transit ridership metrics.
• The Edmonton Fire Rescue Services is managing fire prevention services and delivering public education to help reduce fires, an audit has found. The technical services team has not been inspecting all high-risk construction sites, the audit said. The auditor recommended that EFRS set priorities for the technical services team to improve record-keeping and reporting.

And here are updates on some of the items we told you about last week:

• Administration told council that reverting the zoning bylaw to parameters that were in place before 2024 could mean some neighbourhoods would be zoned for larger infill projects. About 50% of lots across the city are currently zoned small-scale residential (RS), a zone that replaced six former residential zones. The most relevant former zones are single-detached residential (RF1) and small-scale infill development (RF3). Both zones allowed single- and semi-detached housing, duplexes, and secondary suites, and the RF3 zone also allowed multi-unit housing. Reverting to those zones would mean that neighbourhoods outside the mature neighbourhood overlay (MNO) would see an increase in permitted height for infill; any neighbourhoods previously zoned RF3 would have no unit restrictions on mid-block infill; and in mature neighbourhoods zoned RF1, the maximum height would be reduced by 60 centimetres while the overall footprint of developments would be the same. Council voted to direct administration and Mayor Andrew Knack to deliver a presentation to Alberta's Ministry of Municipal Affairs about the changes. The delegation will also ask for clarification on the wording of the ministry's order in council, as councillors said it was unclear what is meant by "the satisfaction of the minister." Administration said it will release draft bylaw amendments in mid-November to meet the province's deadline of Jan. 22.
• Edmonton city council voted to prioritize residential alley renewal, delaying work in several business improvement areas. The decision pushed Alberta Avenue alley renewal to 2031, which frustrated some local residents. "We're seeing a lot of infill, and that's just creating a lot more stress to our infrastructure, and we haven't had it updated in more than 50 years," said Erick Estrada of the Alberta Avenue Business Association. Mayor Andrew Knack said council was reallocating money rather than cutting funding.
• Edmonton city council voted 9-3 to seek a national task force on municipal autonomy. The motion from Coun. Aaron Paquette calls for a proposal to the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. Council also voted to pursue a resolution through Alberta Municipalities and a declaration on municipal autonomy through the Big City Mayors' Caucus within the FCM.
• Council voted 9-4 to approve a rezoning application in West Jasper Place at 9941 150 Street NW to allow for a four-storey residential building. Councillors Reed Clarke, Mike Elliott, Thu Parmar, and Karen Principe voted against the rezoning. Clarke, whose ward includes the neighbourhood, said he thought the proposed development would be too large for a dead-end street and that the existing zoning is sufficient.
• Council voted 9-4 to rezone a lot in Westmount at 12202 109A Avenue NW to allow for a larger three-storey residential building. Councillors Reed Clarke, Mike Elliott, Thu Parmar, and Karen Principe voted against the rezoning. Coun. Anne Stevenson, who represents Westmount, said the application aligns with the City Plan and would intensify the 124 Street primary corridor.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

For more on civic affairs, including council's discussion on the zoning bylaw order, Edmonton's results in the referendum, and Coun. Anne Stevenson's resignation from the police commission, check out Episode 378 of Speaking Municipally.