Summary#

Calgary City Council passed Bylaw 49D2026 at third reading on May 12, 2026. It changes the land use district for 1601 Bowness Road NW in Hillhurst, Ward 7, from Mixed Use – General (MU-1f1.0h13) to Residential – Grade-Oriented Infill (R-CG). City staff’s stated goal was to make it easier to redevelop the vacant site and consolidate it with an adjacent parcel.

• The change applies to about 0.07 hectares (0.17 acres) at 1601 Bowness Road NW.
• City staff say the proposed redevelopment is a nine-unit townhouse development with nine secondary suites; a development permit application for it is under review.
• The zoning change does not itself approve that development or require the owner to build it.
• Council approved the change 14 to 1; Councillor Jamieson voted against. The three readings of the bylaw each passed 15 to 0.

What it means for you#

• Property owner and developer: The site now has R-CG zoning instead of MU-1 zoning. The developer still needs a development permit; its application is under review.
• Nearby residents: The change allows residential redevelopment under the new district, but the project’s design and details such as parking and landscaping are to be considered at the development-permit stage.
• People seeking housing: The zoning change may allow housing on a currently vacant site, but it does not guarantee that homes will be built or be affordable.
• Neighbours concerned about traffic and the lane: The decision does not require a traffic study or lane upgrades, nor does it say who would pay for any upgrades.

Money#

City staff reported no anticipated financial impact from the land use change.

• The report gives no cost estimate for the development, any future lane work, or the City’s review of the development permit.

What is unclear#

• The development permit is still under review, so the final design, number of homes and suites, parking and landscaping are not settled in the available material. The objecting resident described a different possible unit count.
• The materials do not include the full Land Use Bylaw, so the exact uses and limits allowed by the former and new districts cannot be verified here.
• The decision does not say whether the City will assess or upgrade the shared lane, or how any such work would be funded.

Case for#

• City staff say the change could help redevelop a vacant, underused site and allow more housing in an inner-city community.
• Staff say R-CG would allow a range of housing types and make consolidation with the adjacent R-CG parcel easier.
• Staff judged the proposal consistent with the Municipal Development Plan and Riley Communities Local Area Plan. One support letter welcomed a return to a low-density district; the Hillhurst/Sunnyside Community Association also expressed support and raised design considerations.

Case against#

• Four opposition letters raised concerns including the number of units, street parking, traffic, construction disruption and pressure on City services.
• One resident argued that changing from mixed-use zoning could remove opportunities for ground-floor businesses along 14 Street NW, which the resident said is identified as a Neighbourhood Main Street. That claim is not resolved in the supplied material.
• The same resident called for a traffic assessment and lane upgrades, saying the shared lane is unimproved and access to 14 Street NW is unsafe. The decision does not require those steps.
• Councillor Jamieson voted against the motion to approve the change. The minutes do not give the reason for the vote.