Parkallen Civics Director Jan Hardstaff responds to CBC coverage of the Repeal of Community Development Plans

This article does not mention that the repeal of 77 existing plans is intended to fulfill the 2018 Infill Roadmap Action 15 to review, revise and retire plans. The City has had 3 years to consult with leagues and provide time for review and revision of plans. Instead they have jumped straight to repeal and given Communities 3 weeks, now a month to do the review and revision of plans, that in the case of Parkallen took years to develop and which have no time horizon. The Infill Roadmap is a list of actions intended to mitigate risk for builders and the City by reducing time and cost they consider barriers to infill or red tape. The City is saving time by not consulting with leagues and money by not offer planning resources to assist community and citizen stakeholders to review and revise their plans. They are asking communities to do their work - an impossible task with insufficient time and resources. Parkallen has not been able to discuss the proposed plan repeal with their board and to date feedback received from its residents has been entirely negative. What is certain is that the vision and principles in the Parkallen Community Development Plan are indeed timeless. This plan has been a guide and has identified recommendations and goals the community has worked toward and continue to pursue to create the foundation for a strong community. Plans should not become a one size fits all, vanilla, beige document that drives future redevelopment but ignores the inner soul and life of a neighbourhood. Phase 1 of the City Planning Framework process guarantees for City Administration there will be little to no feedback. They will repeal plans and leave communities with no plan, so they can create District Plans to achieve the City Plan and this is not a good plan for communities. Phase 2 will also exclude direct engagement with communities and citizens. The City suggests any feedback they do receive will be “internally reviewed.” They will decide what gets incorporated in Future District Plans. This will mean the City, in collaboration with industry, will plan the future redevelopment of mature and established communities that will not be directly involved in a meaningful way in the planning process. This will include increasing development intensity through a new Zoning Bylaw to maximize opportunities for multi-unit housing and economic outcome. Who will ensure these communities remain liveable, healthy places where citizens feel like they belong and are connected to one another to achieve a common vision? The City Planning Framework site refers to the building and development industry as their “city building partners” and they are collaborating on how to build 50% of new dwellings as infill to bring 600,000 new residents to existing communities. That is “what” the City Plan proposed. What is not clear is “how” this will be done. How has risk to Communities and citizens been assessed and mitigated? Will this be done? How will private and public property be protected? Will the City ensure compliance through enforcement of the law? How will increased redevelopment site intensity impact existing drainage and utility infrastructure? How recently been renewed surface infrastructure or the efficacy of flood mitigation strategies, built to existing development capacity, not future development intensity, be preserved? The City plans to “upgrade infrastructure” to accommodate redevelopment and “share the cost”. What does this mean, share with whom? How will the City preserve the unique qualities and strengths of communities to ensure the citizens living in their neighbourhoods are included in the planning process to build and nurture healthy, living, vibrant, connected, active communities that engage and empower citizens to work towards a common vision that benefits the community and its citizens. The City has invested years of engagement with industry stakeholders. They need to provide the same engagement opportunities for existing Community and citizen stakeholders who are expected to absorb and accept infill redevelopment, but who are being swept aside and ignored in the planning process. Communities and citizens need to let City Council and Administration know they want the opportunity to be engaged in a meaningful way and involved in decisions that will affect them in the future. They want an effective voice, respect and consideration as important stakeholders in the future planning of their neighbourhoods. Email cityplanningframework@edmonton.ca, the Mayor and your Councillor (first name.last name@edmonton.ca)