The co-hosts of Episode 320 of Speaking Municipally explored a river valley development policy, a downtown student housing incentive, and where mayoral candidates stand on infill. Here's a quick snapshot.
1. River Valley bylaw
Co-hosts Stephanie Swensrude and Mack Male examined the city's new river valley redevelopment plan and its critics, which Postmedia reported on. The plan, which council passed on Aug. 18, will allow administration to approve developments in the river valley of up to 10,000 square metres without council's permission. For context, Swensrude said the surface parking lot at the Old Strathcona Farmers' Market is about 7,750 square metres. The co-hosts noted that the North Saskatchewan River Valley Conservation Society opposed parts of the plan, taking issue with its somewhat vague language and the reduced oversight it gives council on development proposals. For context, the conservation society wanted the threshold for needing to seek council oversight to drop to just 500 square metres.
"That does seem like a large amount of space," Male said, about the newly passed threshold. "You can build quite a bit on 10,000 square metres, and for no council oversight to happen there is definitely a change."
Swensrude, meanwhile, suggested the river valley won't drastically change in the immediate future. "I don't think that there's going to be a hotel in the middle of the river valley anytime soon," she said.
2. Downtown student housing
On Aug. 13, executive committee recommended that council approve a $15 million downtown student housing incentive. Funded by the federal Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation, the incentive offers developers $30,000 per unit to those who build student housing downtown. The priority zone is concentrated around the planned Warehouse Park, close to MacEwan University and NorQuest College. The city's aim is to address the needs of the more than 80% of Edmonton post-secondary students who spend more than 30% of their income on rent. It also aims to bring more to downtown in the process.
Swensrude said there's evidence that students brighten up the neighbourhoods they live in. "(The incentive) addresses affordability for students who are, famously, a very broke segment of society. It addresses the vibrancy of downtown," she said. "I go to Whyte Avenue, and the young people certainly contribute to a vibrant nightlife."
3. Mayoral candidates fill us in on infill
Both co-hosts said a recent Postmedia article that compiled where mayoral candidates stand on infill had notable details. They honed in on mayoral candidates who are current councillors, like Andrew Knack, who said he wants to protect trees on private property, and Tim Cartmell, who said he wants to change the rules to reduce the maximum size of houses to four units when they are mid-block and six units on corners. Cartmell also said he wants at least half a parking stall allotted per new unit of housing, despite the fact Edmonton was the first large city in Canada to institute open option parking rules in 2020.
"(Open option parking is) something Edmonton has been widely praised for," Male said. "(A minimum parking requirement) actually seems like an odd thing to want to bring back."
The Aug. 22 episode also includes discussion of the receivership of Edmonton City Centre, the possible changes to city council's schedule, Taproot's election project, and more. Listening and subscription options are all right here.