On the agenda: Terra Losa toy store, Bonnie Doon, North Glenora

This week, council will hold public hearings for the former Toys "R" Us in Terra Losa, a proposed four-storey development in Bonnie Doon, and a lot across the street from Westmount Shopping Centre.

The public hearing is on Sept. 22, starting at 9:30am. Council has extended the hearing's scheduled adjournment to 9pm, with a dinner break from 6pm to 7pm.

Here are some key items on the agenda this week:

• A rezoning in Terra Losa would broaden redevelopment options for the former Toys "R" Us at 9908 170 Street NW, which closed in late 2025. EINS Consulting submitted the application on behalf of Dong-Phuong Oriental Market Ltd. The proposed general commercial zoning would allow uses such as grocery stores, offices, and housing above the ground floor, with buildings up to 16 metres for most uses and 30 metres for hotels. Two neighbouring commercial parcels would receive updated direct control zoning. Administration said it supports the application, citing redevelopment opportunities along the Stony Plain Road corridor.
• Council will consider a rezoning application in Bonnie Doon at 8515 and 8519 84 Avenue NW to allow housing up to about four storeys. Administration said it supports the proposal because it would add housing near services and transit, including the Bonnie Doon LRT stop within a 550-metre walk. Residents raised concerns about infrastructure capacity, building scale, shadows, parking, and tree loss.
• A rezoning in North Glenora across the street from Westmount Shopping Centre would allow housing up to four storeys at 11029 and 11033 135 Street NW. Administration said it supports the application, citing nearby shops, schools, recreation facilities, and bus service. Four of the five responses to the mailed notice opposed it, with concerns including traffic, density, and the absence of parking requirements.
• A rezoning and district plan amendment in Montrose would replace residential zoning at 12103 and 12107 66 Street NW with zoning for light industrial and small commercial businesses. The report says planning policies in the 1980s sought to convert this stretch of 66 Street to non-industrial uses, but no residential redevelopment has occurred.
• A postponed Parkdale rezoning application would lower the maximum building height at 11348 83 Street NW from 16 metres to 14 metres while changing setbacks, which administration said would make development more feasible on the small corner lot. Administration supports the proposal, saying it aligns with the Stadium Station area redevelopment plan.

Here are updates on some of the items we told you about last week:

• Council unanimously approved a rezoning in McKernan at 11537 University Avenue NW, across from the Cross Cancer Institute, to allow a development up to about four storeys. Administration told council that because the site is narrow, it is unlikely the development would reach that height.
• Coun. Michael Janz gave notice of a motion seeking options to address residential parking pressures through the planned 2027 parking reinvestment work, including possible revenue sharing and more proactive enforcement. Janz told CityNews he wants the city to consider charging for street parking in high-demand neighbourhoods and returning some revenue to homeowners in those areas. That motion has not yet been decided.
• Council services committee voted unanimously to prepare the 2027 council meeting calendar using Option 2, which would move executive committee meetings to Mondays and public hearings to mid-week where possible. The final calendar report is expected at council's Oct. 27 organizational meeting. The committee also unanimously requested a report on options for a cutoff for public speaker registration, due in the first quarter of 2027.
• Audit committee recommended that council approve the city auditor's 2027-2030 operating budget. The proposal starts at about $3.14 million in 2027 and would retain 17 full-time-equivalent positions. It still requires council's budget approval.
• Council directed administration to review municipal bylaw fines and return with recommended changes and a recurring review schedule.
• Council voted 8-4 for a previously postponed Glenwood mixed-use rezoning. An Inglewood rezoning was referred back to administration in an 8-5 vote to prepare changes to the Westmount District Node boundary, with a return date to be determined.
• Council voted 9-4 to further postpone a public hearing that would introduce tighter rules for lodging houses. The amendments would lower the threshold from four individually rented bedrooms to three and prohibit lodging houses in row housing and multi-unit housing in some residential zones. Lodging houses would also be barred from secondary suites. Council will consider the changes at the Sept. 22 public hearing.

Meetings stream live on YouTube on the Chamber channel and River Valley Room channel.

For more on civic affairs, including a discussion with heritage advocate Andy Grabia about the fight to save the University of Alberta's memorial organ and a look back at 10 years of the downtown arena, listen to Episode 372 of Speaking Municipally.