Calgary lawyer wants judge to rule on council’s decision against blanket rezoning plebiscite

A retired Calgary lawyer wants a judge to weigh in on council’s decision not to hold a plebiscite on citywide rezoning.

Robert Lehodey is one of two residents that have filed for a judicial review

Speaking on Now You Know with Rob Snow on Tuesday afternoon, Lehodey says the current ongoing public hearing is not enough of a public consultation, even though it is the largest in the city’s history.

“The reality of it is, it’s not,” he says. “Seven-hundred plus people, or whatever the number is, are not the million-plus people affected by this.”

“There has not been an effective say, or opportunity to have a say by Calgarians.”

Lehodey says the city will need to respond to their application for a judicial review within a few weeks and then they will decide the next steps.

The city has said they don’t comment on matters before the courts.

The premise of blanket rezoning is to make it faster for housing approvals, and make it easier for more housing options to be built in some neighbourhoods around the city, by allowing R-CG — also known as Residential Grade-Oriented Infill — which would mean more duplexes, rowhomes, or townhouses could be built.

Day 2 of blanket rezoning public hearing

Over 800 people are now scheduled to speak at what is the largest public hearing in city’s history that kicked off on Monday.

Supporters of the move say it will help cut red tape and address the ongoing housing affordability crisis — but opponents question if it will actually make for cheaper homes.

A number of speakers have noted row homes and townhomes that have been built as of late in R-CG districts aren’t exactly considered affordable, with some hovering above $1 million, depending on the neighborhood.

“If it’s about making homes more affordable, I’m not convinced,” says Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean. “Where we’ve densified areas, the home prices have gone up. Maybe this isn’t the answer.”

Ward 3 Coun. Jasmine Mian says while city council isn’t able to control what people charge for homes, they can help control supply.

“What this discussion is, is do we reduce some of the red tape that is there for more supply to come online,” she says. “Or do we continue to have the same process that constrains that development to single-family homes.”

Mayor Jyoti Gondek was asked about concerns around the potential move and what the city is doing to ensure affordable homes also get built.

“If people are equating rezoning to being the only solution for housing affordability, it’s simply not,” said the mayor. “We have a robust strategy that includes 98 different steps.”

Gondek was asked how council is able to focus throughout the hearing given the amount of speakers that are coming up to the podium every day.

“Our job is to listen to the people and our job is to sit though public hearings regardless of how long they are,” she says.

Council is expected to be hearing from the public until 9:30 p.m. each night until the hearing concludes.

Listen live to CityNews660 for the latest on the historic public hearing.