Given the tenor of our recent observation of the nature of infill growth public feedback, the first reading passage of the Westbrook Local Area Plan is a significant happy moment, for yours truly. I sat on this thing for three years as an industry appointee to the steering committee, and have my own perspective given the effort and serious time invested. What do these local area plan ‘things’ do? They will help avoid the divisive, nasty, 50 ft wars we see erupt in our inner city communities related to growth and change of land use, such as the one in North Glenmore Park, and the replacement of the dated individual community plan system in place now. While I felt the overall Westbrook iteration had a few items to improve over time, and drafted a letter discussing this, I am pleased the final version is in the process of passing. The tremendous objections to the plan were rooted in the desire of each community to be seen as ‘individual’ and ‘unique’. What this meant in practice is many in the Rc1 areas mainly want permanent protection from any housing construction (other than mansion replacement of like (smaller/older) for like (newer/larger) single homes). As someone somewhat involved in ‘construction’, I heartily objected to this sentiment, and reject the notion that some areas deserve a continuous regulatory privilege against row housing and semi detached housing. Council earlier made what could have been a mistake introducing the potential for special Rc1 policy areas. If every community seeks this designation, it sort of rules out the ‘specialness’ of the designation, it is what we have today! The planning department, thus far seems to be showing some backbone in resisting the application of this Rc1 preservation in favour of the greater interest of offering inclusive communities (not wealthy enclaves), and more built form options (more doors per lot). Some on Council were extremely complimentary of the staff efforts, I agree. The staff leading the process were basically being targeted as incompetent by many in the public. I’d say, likewise, after hearing many of the usual tropes dragged out and displayed at the hearing. Another step, but this time, a big one, rather than a baby step toward modernizing infill policy in Calgary!
scale map of the Westbrook Local Area plan.