City council approves zoning bylaw change reducing infill height limit

An Edmonton infill development in an undated photo.

Edmonton’s city council has passed changes to a bylaw that reduces the height of small-scale residential infill housing by one metre

Ten members of council voted in favour of reducing the maximum height to 9.5 metres from 10.5 metres. Three opposed the change.

Council’s move to shrink the maximum height comes in response to residents expressing their displeasure of large, often boxy builds in their neighbourhoods. In February, city council approved a motion to reduce the maximum height of such infill developments.

Thu Parmar, the councillor for Ward sipiwiyiniwak, said Monday during the public hearing the move is “one small step to show that we are listening to Edmontonians.”

Last June, council shrunk the length and width of infill, among other adjustments.

Earlier this year, city council struck down a motion which would have reduced the number of maximum infill units to six from eight.

Mayor Andrew Knack said Monday he, too, believes shorter buildings – plus the previously approved smaller footprint – equals a meaningful response to neighbourhood concerns.

“This still allows for more units of housing to get built, for us to retain our affordability advantage that we have across this country, and at the same time, respond to what we’ve been hearing from residents in mature communities,” he said during the meeting.

The new infill height restriction takes effect on Aug. 1.

Several neighbourhood groups say the zoning bylaw is still too broad, while some developers, city residents and councillors worry compromises such as a height reduction dilute the city’s density and affordability goals.

“Whoever’s going to build on a lot is still going to have options, but I think those options will be a lot more limited,” said Ward Karhiio Coun. Keren Tang, who opposed the change along with councillors Jo-Anne Wright of Ward Sspomitapi and Jon Morgan of Ward Ipiihkoohkanipiaohtsi.

“I think when we do that, we start to limit housing diversity and choice, which will continue to erode housing affordability.”