Summary#

On April 28, 2026, Calgary Council adopted directions for the Saatoohtsi Phase 1 growth application in Ward 13, by a vote of 11 to 4. Council did not approve the development or its funding: it directed City staff to consider investments in future budget priorities and to work with the applicant on who pays for temporary sanitary servicing.

• Staff must consider required capital and operating investments in prioritizing the 2027–2030 budgets and future budgets from 2031 onward. This does not guarantee funding.
• Before any outline plan or land use approval, staff must work with the applicant to reach an agreement on the developer’s responsibility for the full capital and operating costs of temporary sanitary servicing.
• Councillors Kelly, Atkinson, Schmidt and Clark voted against the motion.

What it means for you#

• People considering homes in Saatoohtsi: The application could enable 2,000 homes, according to the City staff report. This decision does not approve those homes or set a construction date. Further planning approvals are still needed.
• The applicant and City staff: Staff must consider possible City investments in budget priorities and work toward an agreement on the developer’s responsibility for temporary sanitary servicing before later approvals.
• Taxpayers: Council has not committed public money. The investments will be considered alongside other budget priorities.

Money#

The decision does not approve a budget or state a total cost; the staff report gives estimates that remain uncertain.

• The report estimates $2.4 million for stormwater and says the applicant estimates $7.7 million for sanitary servicing. The sanitary solution and costs need more work.
• If approved in budgets, operating costs are estimated at about $0.22 million starting in 2028 and $3.4 million by full build-out. The report says the cost model excludes asset lifecycle costs.
• The report estimates $338.2 million in future mobility and emergency response investments for growth in the Saatoohtsi plan area and broader South Sector. It says some costs would be funded by levies, pending an update to the Off-site Levies Bylaw.

What is unclear#

• Whether the applicant and City staff will reach the required agreement, and what it will say.
• What sanitary servicing solution will be used, and its final cost.
• Whether, when or how much City funding will be approved through future budgets.
• The timing of any outline plan, land use approval or development.

Case for#

• A possible case for the decision is that it lets the application be considered alongside other needs in current and future budgets, rather than ruling out investment.
• City staff say the application could enable 2,000 homes. The report also says new community development can support housing options and economic activity.
• Requiring staff to work toward an agreement on the full cost of temporary sanitary servicing may help clarify the developer’s responsibility before further approvals.

Case against#

• City staff said the application ranked unfavourably on several growth criteria, including its connections to schools, transit and employment, and that the South Sector already had seven active new communities.
• Staff warned that the sanitary proposal might be oversized for 2,000 homes, creating operating and maintenance challenges, and that costs were not yet confirmed.
• Staff said growth beyond the first 2,000 homes could require major mobility investments. They also warned that limited connections could leave future residents more reliant on cars.