Summary#

Calgary City Council approved the Belvedere Monet Growth Application (GA2026-003) in the Belvedere Area Structure Plan, in Ward 9. It directs City staff to include required operating funding in the 2027–2030 Business Plans and Budgets, and to consider later investments through future budget priorities. City staff say the goal is to enable new housing and commercial development in the area.

• The application is expected to enable about 1,100 homes and 2,415 square metres of commercial and retail space.
• City staff must include required operating funding in the 2027–2030 budget process. The report estimates this funding would start in 2028.
• City staff must consider any needed capital or operating investments from 2031 onward when prioritizing future budgets; Council did not approve all those future investments through this decision.
• City staff say no new capital investment is needed to start development because the area can use infrastructure already approved by Council.
• Council adopted the item on the consent agenda, without debate, in a 15–0 vote.

What it means for you#

• Future residents and businesses: The approval enables growth planned for about 1,100 homes and commercial and retail space. It does not itself approve specific building plans; further land-use and outline-plan stages remain.
• Developers: City staff say utility service and access to 17 Avenue SE depend partly on infrastructure through adjacent lands that are not yet developing. If technical studies find that some low-lying areas need pumping for sewer service, the report says developers would fund those improvements.
• Calgarians and taxpayers: City staff are directed to budget for operating costs and consider future investments. The approval does not guarantee that all future infrastructure funding will be approved or when it will be delivered.

Money#

The report estimates new operating costs and future capital needs, but does not give a total cost for this growth application alone.

• City staff estimate tax-supported operating funding of about $34,435 starting in 2028, rising to about $1.1 million per year by final buildout.
• City staff estimate $425.4 million in additional capital investment will be needed in future budgets for this area and the wider Belvedere Area Structure Plan: $75.7 million in 2027–2030 and $349.7 million thereafter. Council directed staff to consider these investments in future budget priorities; it did not approve this full amount.
• At full buildout, City staff estimate $3.2 million in annual revenue and $41.2 million in levies.
• City staff say property taxes and franchise fees from the growth are projected to cover its incremental operating costs by 2028.

What is unclear#

• No publicly available information is provided in the supplied material about the exact site address or the development schedule.
• The report does not set out how much of the wider $425.4 million capital estimate is attributable to this application alone.
• The timing and pace of development may depend on infrastructure through adjacent lands, but the report does not give a delivery schedule.
• The report says further engagement occurs at later land-use and outline-plan stages; details of those future proposals are not yet available.

Case for#

• City staff say the application can enable about 1,100 homes and commercial space while using previously approved water, sewer, stormwater and mobility infrastructure to start development.
• City staff say the projected tax and franchise-fee revenue would cover the growth’s incremental operating costs by 2028.
• The site is 1.6 kilometres from the future 17 Avenue SE transit corridor, which City staff identify as a potential benefit for future residents and workers.

Case against#

• City staff estimate that the area and wider plan will still need $425.4 million in future capital investment, with additional long-term maintenance and lifecycle costs not included in the Growth Applications process.
• The application adds land supply when City staff report Calgary already has seven to 10 years of serviced land, above the City’s three-to-five-year target. Staff say the application does not significantly change total years of land supply.
• The area is more than three kilometres from the nearest existing school, recreation facility and library listed in the report. The report does not say when closer services would be available.