Latest news with #WardPihêsiwin
CBC
24-06-2025
- Business
- CBC
Edmonton city councillor and mayoral candidate calls for infill moratorium
Social Sharing Mayoral candidate and Ward pihêsiwin Coun. Tim Cartmell is calling for a moratorium on infill development and said he plans to move a motion at Edmonton city council's public hearing next week targeting large mid-block buildings. Cartmell announced his plan in a news release on Tuesday, saying the city's infill strategy has moved too fast and "we need to pause, reflect, and fix what's broken before we approve more of the same." The release said his motion would place a moratorium on all new infill development, but Cartmell said in an interview that it would apply primarily to mid-block developments while the city re-examines plans for its 15 "districts," or collections of neighbourhoods. Cartmell said it's not the smaller infill developments — like duplexes and skinny homes — angering people in older neighbourhoods, but the large, monolithic buildings that have been popping up between single-family homes. "It's those very provocative developments that we need to get in front of," he said. Cartmell's announcement comes about a week before a public hearing in which amendments to Edmonton's revamped zoning bylaw will be discussed. The zoning bylaw, which came into effect last year and streamlined the city's zoning regulations to allow for more infill development and density across the city, has been divisive. Its proponents say it is accelerating housing development during a national housing affordability crisis — there was a 30 per cent increase in approved units last year, after the bylaw was enacted — and will save the city money since it's much more expensive to service new neighbourhoods. Critics of the bylaw have taken issue with the pace and scale of development it permits, saying more large multi-unit buildings will fundamentally change their neighbourhoods' character. They have raised concerns about traffic, parking, tree loss and emergency vehicle access, among other issues. Cartmell, who voted to support zoning bylaw renewal and wrote in a blog post last summer that he " absolutely support[s] infill," said a significant amount of the work done to rewrite the bylaw was positive. He said he doesn't want a return to discretionary approvals, but rather a departure from a "one-size-fits-all" approach. He said neighbourhoods' differences should be incorporated into the city's infill policies. "I fear that if we don't actually begin listening to the people that are affected, we're going to lose it all," he said. Evan Wood, a spokesperson with SaveYEG, a group fighting against recent zoning changes, said he was pleased to see Cartmell call for a pause on infill. He said SaveYEG wants to see mature neighbourhoods protected against growth that is unreasonable and unsafe. "This is a good start and I'm hopeful some other councillors will jump on board," he said. Jacob Dawang, an advocate with Grow Together Edmonton, called Cartmell's proposal a "completely irresponsible move" that could lead to higher taxes, rents and housing costs. "It's such a ridiculous proposition for a big city like Edmonton, that's growing like we are, that it does take me aback," he said. Eight-plexes in Edmonton up for debate at city hall 5 days ago Duration 1:49 Eight-plexes are going up around Edmonton since the city's revised zoning bylaw took effect a year and a half ago. City councillors are getting some complaints, prompting a motion to limit mid-block housing to six units. Others say keep the current zoning; housing density means more affordable options. Edmonton Mayor Amarjeet Sohi, who is not running for re-election this fall, said the city needs to continue on the path of allowing more infill development for financial and environmental reasons. "When opportunities come to refurbish or demolish and build new, creating conditions to build a fourplex or duplex or sixplex is the right approach to take," he said at an unrelated news conference on Tuesday. City council's urban planning committee voted earlier this month to support amending the zoning bylaw to reduce the number of allowable units in mid-block row houses from eight to six. Cartmell has said he intends to support that change. Sean Sedgwick, the executive director of the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA), urged city councillors in a letter Tuesday to not approve that reduction and other proposed changes. In a statement to CBC News, he said restrictive zoning practices constraining the supply of housing are a major cause of housing unaffordability in other Canadian cities and calling for a moratorium on infill homes would recreate the problem in Edmonton. "IDEA firmly believes that infill will help our mature neighbourhoods remain sustainable, vibrant places that even more people can enjoy," he said.
CTV News
06-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Timing ‘inconsiderate' as 3 construction projects clog downtown arteries
Construction on the Valley Line West LRT project has closed Stony Plain Road and 124 Street. (CTV News Edmonton/Nav Sangha) While an influx of traffic bustles throughout downtown Edmonton during the Oilers Stanley Cup Final, three construction projects are making it unpleasant. 'There is no avenue from west Edmonton to downtown that is not severely compromised in its capacity,' said Ward pihêsiwin councillor Tim Cartmell at city hall Thursday. Edmonton construction Construction is seen on 104 Avenue near Rogers Place on June 5, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Nav Sangha) Three projects, one for the Valley Line West LRT expansion along 104 Avenue and Stony Plain Road, another for the Imagine Jasper Avenue project from 114 Street to 117 Street, and temporary closures along 107 Avenue, are making it difficult for vehicles, cyclists and pedestrians to get around. Cartmell said he was assured by city administration multiple times that 107 Avenue would be fully open during downtown construction, but sections are reduced to one lane of traffic both ways from 122 Street to 101 Street from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Tim Cartmell Ward pihêsiwin councillor Tim Cartmell is seen at city hall on June 5, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Nav Sangha) The second-term councillor said he's been consistently asking questions about how construction projects are sequenced, especially with LRT expansion. 'You get assurances that they've modeled the traffic, that they're going to maintain capacity, but clearly they haven't paid attention to what people really want to see from their city,' said Cartmell. 'It's enormously frustrating' While the Oilers head into Game 2 of the Stanley Cup Final, Cartmell is worried the downtown construction might deter people from returning to the core. 'If we're trying to get people to come to Edmonton … that starts with activating our core,' said Cartmell. 'And yet it seems that it does not find its way into the decision making level at the City of Edmonton.' Edmonton construction Parts of 107 Avenue are closed during construction. (CTV News Edmonton/Nav Sangha) 'If (people) come down here for a game and they see how hard it is to get here, they're going to think twice about coming back.' Cartmell said he hasn't gotten an answer from city administration after asking why they decided to give the green light for three simultaneous construction projects downtown. A statement from the City of Edmonton said it understand construction can be disruptive, but it works to coordinate projects to minimize impacts where possible. 'Projects and timelines are prioritized based on infrastructure condition, safety and functionality, along with available funding,' said the statement. 'While construction activity may overlap in areas, it's important to remember that Edmonton has a short construction season.' Pankaj Sor, owner of The Cabin on Jasper Ave and 116 Street has had to sacrifice his south-facing patio while machines chipped away at the road and sidewalk. 'It's really very upsetting,' said Sor in front of his pub. 'There is no support from the city.' Edmonton construction Pankaj Sor is seen in his Jasper Avenue pub The Cabin on June 5, 2025. (CTV News Edmonton/Nav Sangha) Sor had to pay out of pocket to remove the patio and will have to pay to put it back in once the project is complete. He said no compensation has been offered to the businesses affected by road and sidewalk closures. 'I'm thankful to our regulars,' said Sor, adding that the Oilers are keeping them busy despite the unsightly trench and barricades at the front of his business. Edmonton construction Construction projects along Jasper Avenue have impacted businesses. (CTV News Edmonton/Nav Sangha) But lunch sales have declined about 20 per cent since construction began two months ago. The project is expected to wrap up in mid-July, but Sor won't be surprised if it takes longer. Kayla Cunday, a student in the Wîhkwêntôwin area said it's been difficult to get around. 'I feel like the timing was inconsiderate of those of us who have to be down here all day everyday,' said Cunday, adding that it's particularly difficult for people with physical disabilities to get around when there are so many sidewalk and road closures. 'It feels congested, there's already a lot happening so then with all of this construction it's been a little bit infuriating.' Jasper Avenue construction is expected to wrap up in 2027 with work pausing during the winter months. The project will be done in sections with the 114 Street to 117 Street stretch wrapping up this year. The Valley Line West project is anticipated to be completed in 2028. Closure to 124 Street and Stony Plain Road is expected to open next week. The city says the 107 Avenue Revitalization will be finished this year. With files from CTV News Edmonton's Nav Sangha
