This is simple. Calgarians loudly said “no” to blanket rezoning so I will repeal it. Many candidates have promised to repeal the policy, but I want to go farther and implement policies so that future councils have a very difficult time passing anything that resembles blanket rezoning. It only takes one bad council to bring it back, I’ll make it next to impossible.
Repealing Blanket Rezoning: I will join the rest of our next council in passing a new land-use bylaw that re-designates all affected properties back to their former residential zoning categories. That means if you invested in a home in a single family house community, then that community will continue to only allow single family homes.
Blocking Future Rezoning: I will push for protective zoning overlays in single family home communities to lock in their current land-use for 50 years. We can implement individual protections over each single-family home community, so if any future council that wants to implement blanket rezoning, they would have to repeal each protective zone one by one and and would have to hold citizen engagement hearings for each community. It would make it next to impossible to rezone Calgary again.
Prioritizing Services Calgarians See and Feel
In an affordability crisis where most families are tightening their belts, the government must focus on delivering frontline services that Calgarians see and feel and putting a temporary hold on vanity projects. As a new father, I will bring the same priority focused budgeting to city hall as we implement in our home. Needs come first, wants come second.
Front Line Service Taskforce: I will create a front line service taskforce that tracks essential service delivery and ensures that funding flows to those programs first. We will focus on priority items that you can see and feel every day like plowed streets, smooth roads, properly aligned traffic lights, reliable transit, policing, and more. Putting your priorities first.
Postponing Vanity Projects: I support the reasonable funding of art and beautification projects throughout Calgary. They enhance the culture and enjoyment of our city. I don’t support the $6.5 million spent to rebrand the city as Blue Sky City during a time where demands on the foodbank have increased 300% since 2019 and 46% of surveyed Calgarians report losing sleep over the increased cost of living. Property tax increases should be representative of inflation, not a reckless council.
