Calgary City Council is considering speeding up the process of building new neighbourhoods in order to meet the growing demand for housing in the city.
According to a report presented to the council on Monday, the current timeline for developing new neighbourhoods in Calgary can take up to 10 years. This includes the planning, design, and construction phases.
However, with the city’s population expected to reach 2.2 million by 2046, there is a pressing need for more housing options. This has led to discussions about accelerating the development process.
Councillor Shane Keating, who chairs the city’s planning and urban development committee, believes that shortening the timeline for building new neighbourhoods is necessary in order to keep up with the city’s growth.
“We need to be able to provide housing for people in a timely manner,” Keating said. “We can’t wait 10 years for a new neighbourhood to be built when we have a growing population.”
The report presented to the council outlined several potential strategies for speeding up the development process. These include streamlining the approval process, reducing red tape, and increasing collaboration between different departments involved in the development process.
However, some councillors have expressed concerns about the potential impact of accelerating the development process. Councillor Druh Farrell raised concerns about the quality of development and the potential strain on city resources.
“We need to make sure that we are not sacrificing quality for speed,” Farrell said. “We also need to consider the impact on our infrastructure and services.”
The council will continue to discuss and debate the issue before making a decision on whether to move forward with expediting the development process.
In the meantime, the city will continue to work on current and upcoming neighbourhood developments, such as the new community of Providence in the city’s northwest, which is expected to be completed by 2023.
Overall, the discussion around speeding up the development process highlights the need for proactive planning and collaboration in order to meet the growing demand for housing in Calgary. The council will carefully consider all factors before making a decision that will impact the city’s future growth and development.
