Calgary's Rezoning Battle Heats Up Ahead of Crucial Council Vote

Repeal Motion Advances Amid Public Demand

Calgary's highly contentious blanket upzoning bylaw is nearing a pivotal moment. A Notice of Motion to repeal the city-wide rezoning policy was carried by the Executive Committee with a significant 13-2 vote on November 17, 2025. This sets the stage for a critical debate and final decision at the full City Council meeting on December 15, 2025.

Community sentiment strongly advocates for a complete repeal, expressing deep concern over the original bylaw, which was approved by Council on May 14, 2024, by a 9-6 vote. This policy allowed for duplexes, fourplexes, and row houses in areas previously zoned for single-family homes, despite a public hearing where approximately 70% of nearly 7,000 presenters expressed opposition.

Council Votes Under Scrutiny

Councillors Myke Atkinson (Ward 7) and Nathaniel Schmidt (Ward 8) cast the two votes against advancing the repeal motion in committee. Their opposition stems from a shared concern that repeal is too costly and counterproductive to solving the housing crisis.

Councillor Schmidt argues that returning to the inefficient, old zoning process, which caused major delays and added tens of thousands of dollars to the cost of new homes, is the wrong path. Both he and Councillor Atkinson believe the City should focus on amending and fine-tuning the existing R-CG zoning—specifically to address infrastructure and community character issues—rather than throwing the entire housing strategy into costly chaos and starting back at square one.

As December 15 approaches, Calgarians await to see if the bylaw, designed to address housing affordability, will be fully reversed or remain in effect.