Summary#

On October 20, 2026, the Urban Planning Committee voted 3 to 2 to recommend that City Council authorize preparation of a new statutory plan for about 107 hectares in the southwest corner of the Winterburn Industrial Area. City Council still has to decide; this is not approval of a plan or development. City staff recommended refusing authorization, citing the goal of preserving industrial land.

• Councillor R. Clarke moved the recommendation. Councillors M. Janz and A. Stevenson voted against it.
• The committee motion asks for a new plan to be prepared for the land shown in the City report. The report says the developer is seeking authorization to prepare a mostly residential plan, with some business employment and commercial uses.
• A statutory plan would guide later zoning, subdivision and development. The motion does not approve those steps.
• City staff say the proposed residential use conflicts with policies that designate the land for non-residential use and discourage residential development in industrial areas.

What it means for you#

• People living nearby: No new homes or other development are approved by this committee decision. If a plan application proceeds, City staff say residents would have engagement opportunities, and Council would consider the plan at a public hearing.
• City Council: Council must decide whether to authorize preparation of the plan. If a plan is later submitted, further review and a separate Council decision would be needed before it could take effect.
• Landowners and the developer: The report says the land is unserviced and that utilities would need to be extended. The committee recommendation does not itself approve utility work, zoning changes or subdivision.

Money#

No cost estimate is provided in the available material.

• City staff say extending utility services would be costly, but the report gives no amount or who would pay.
• If a plan is submitted, City staff say they would assess future costs and revenues for Council. The committee recommendation does not set a budget or funding source.

What is unclear#

• Council has not yet decided whether to authorize preparation of the plan.
• No formal plan application has been received. The final land uses, number of homes, layout and timing are therefore unknown.
• The committee motion does not specify who would prepare or pay for the plan and its technical studies.
• The report says changes to The City Plan and district plans would also be needed for the proposal as described by the developer, but the committee motion does not approve those changes.

Case for#

• The applicant has suggested that adding residential development could make the cost of servicing the land more financially predictable, according to City staff.
• City staff say servicing the site could also support industrial development on nearby lands to the east. A plan could set out land uses, transportation, utilities, parks and development staging for the area.

Case against#

• City staff say the residential proposal conflicts with policies to maintain industrial land and discourage residential uses in commercial and industrial employment areas.
• Staff say the land is well located for industrial development near major highway connections, and that Edmonton needs more industrial land ready for development.
• The site is beside an active landfill and industrial lands. The existing Winterburn Industrial plan bars residential uses there, except at Westview Village, to manage risks and conflicts between residential and industrial uses.