Calgary’s urban sprawl: Need or luxury?

Canada is known for having two seasons, winter and construction.

In Calgary, there is about to be a lot more construction, as city council approved the development of five new communities around the outskirts of the city.

The new communities will be called Belvedere West, Keystone Hills Lewiston, Ricardo Ranch Seton Ridge, Ricardo Ranch Logan Landing, and Ricardo Ranch Nostalgia. But at this rate of expansion, is the city of Calgary headed to an unwanted urban sprawl?

Christopher Audette, a real estate expert with The Group at RE/MAX First, says Calgary has a checkered past with developing new neighbourhoods.

“Urban sprawl has been on the city of Calgary’s radar since 2007 but they have had marginal success dealing with it,” he said.

Audette adds there are a number of reasons why the city has chosen to expand outwards rather than further develop its existing urban areas.

“When you go out versus up, there’s additional costs for infrastructure, transportation. There’s service reductions with things like your fire, police, medical. Also — climate change — we’ve got a climate crisis slash emergency that’s going on right now. And we also have to invest money back into them, fight what we’re investing money to create,” Audette said.

“Calgarians like their space. And a large part of the population that is growing as well as coming from places like Toronto and Vancouver, large major centers with high prices, high density. They’re coming to Calgary because they’re looking for big open spaces. So it’s a bit of a battle between what the people want and the large influx of people coming here and what the city is trying to do with the downtown inner city, utilizing the infrastructure that already exists.

“There are some benefits as well, as long as the city is looking at smart planned communities that are self-sufficient, and people do not have to travel out of those communities, then that’s efficient.”

More communities means more housing options, but with this outward expansion, some wonder if it will hurt taxpayers in the long run. Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp says, at least not this time.

“The five (communities) that were approved on yesterday from the bylaw that we looked at in July — from my understanding, (they) don’t add to the tax base coming forward,” Sharp said. “This is something we also have discussed as we move forward in the four-year cycle. And the whole growth management overlay conversation needs to be probably re-evaluated.”