Latest news with #SonyaSharp
Global News
5 days ago
- Business
- Global News
Council draws ire of Calgary developers after ‘housekeeping' land-use changes defeated
Two groups of developers are calling out Calgary city council after proposed 'housekeeping' changes to the city's land-use bylaw were defeated, and a move to reconsider the vote was also shot down. Global News has obtained two letters sent to city council on Thursday: one from the Calgary Inner City Builders Association (CICBA), and the other from a group of 18 high-rise developers. In its letter, CICBA noted its members are 'exceedingly disappointed and frustrated' with council's decision. 'The introduction of politics to administrative, housekeeping amendments is a dangerous exercise,' the letter read. 'It reduces our ability to deliver much-needed housing units and it erodes housing affordability across the city.' Earlier this month, city council was presented with 12 amendments to the city's land-use bylaw, which outlines the rules and regulations for development of land in Calgary within each zoning district. Story continues below advertisement The updates included updated language around rear setbacks, parcel coverage and garage rules, as well as the removal of requirements for mobility storage lockers, and the removal for rezoning and public hearing for child-care services in an existing building. The proposal also included a language change around the period for appeals, aligning it with the provincial rules. Get breaking National news For news impacting Canada and around the world, sign up for breaking news alerts delivered directly to you when they happen. Sign up for breaking National newsletter Sign Up By providing your email address, you have read and agree to Global News' Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy According to the city, the amendments 'streamline process, reduce timelines and costs for applicants, and focus on enabling housing and services for families,' and were done in consultation with the building industry. However, the changes were defeated in a tie vote with councillors Sean Chu, Sonya Sharp, Dan McLean, Jennifer Wyness, Andre Chabot, and Terry Wong voting against. 'My frustration is we have a bunch of people who talk about finding efficiencies, saving money, and creating partnerships with industry, and creating more affordable housing, but at every single turn they vote against that,' said Ward 11 Coun. Kourtney Penner. Earlier this week, council then debated a motion to reconsider the vote on the land-use bylaw amendments, which required a two-thirds majority. However, that reconsideration vote was also defeated with councillors Sharp, McLean, Wyness, Chabot, and Wong voting against. 'It was pointed out to me by several members of council that had they been able to break apart the various housekeeping changes, they felt it would've been a better decision so we prepared that,' Calgary mayor Jyoti Gondek told Global News. Story continues below advertisement 'Instead (of) letting that happen, enough members of council just turned it all down again.' In the other letter to councillors, the highrise developers noted they 'do not understand' why council would 'not at least support reconsideration through voting separately on each of the individual amendments,' asking councillors to once again reconsider. 'These types of amendments represent necessary and impactful incremental improvements to our shared planning and development system,' the letter read. 'These types of amendments result in reduced red tape and costs which can increase the supply and affordability of housing.' In an interview with Global News, McLean, who represents Ward 13, said he agreed with what he read in the letter, and does support some of the housekeeping amendments, but defended his decision to vote against the reconsideration. 'I think if we broke them apart one by one they would've all passed, and I didn't want them to all pass,' he said. 'Bring them back separate if you want them to pass.' Wong, the councillor for Ward 7, told Global News in a statement that he felt five of the updates were policy matters bundled into an omnibus vote, not housekeeping. 'I voted against the reconsideration as there was no official mechanism to 'straw vote' which amendments would be supported or rejected; thus I was not confident that an amended omnibus package could be achieved,' his statement read. Story continues below advertisement Wong said he is engaged in discussions to approve some of the 'less contentious amendments' during a council meeting in June.
CBC
05-05-2025
- Sport
- CBC
Rocky Ridge Athletic Park construction begins with $25.1M investment
Social Sharing A new athletic complex in northwest Calgary is one step closer to becoming a reality. Construction has begun on the Rocky Ridge Athletic Park as part of a $25.1-million investment in the city's recreational sports scene, the city announced Monday. The park is slated to include two competition-sized turf sports fields, in addition to dedicated parking, field lighting, washrooms and landscaping. The development is designed to improve access to recreation in Calgary's northwest communities. "The Rocky Ridge Athletic Park is a clear example of how we are planning for growth and responding to the needs of our communities," said Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek in a media release. "It's a smart and necessary step for the future of Calgary, ensuring we create high-quality spaces where families, athletes and community groups can come together, stay active and thrive." The athletic park is located across from the Shane Homes YMCA at Rocky Ridge, which held the title of world's largest YMCA facility upon its opening in 2018 before being usurped by Calgary's Brookfield Residential YMCA at Seton the following year. The announcement comes well over a decade after the project's initial approval by city council in 2012. It was one of five projects under the city's revised capital investment strategy approved in 2021. The athletic complex is set to include a regional field house alongside the facility's athletic park, with the field house expected to be designed and constructed when further funding becomes available, according to the city. The Rocky Ridge Athletic Park is expected to be completed by fall 2026. Construction of the athletic park is part of the city's "GamePlan" public recreation strategy, which aims to build 43 athletic park fields for a total of 89 across Calgary by 2050. The Rocky Ridge Athletic Park will offer year-round recreation opportunities upon its completion, and will be available for bookings through the same booking system for accessing other athletic parks operated by the city. "The demand for more soccer fields in this city has been loud and clear," said Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp. "We've heard from families, from local soccer clubs, and from young players who just want the chance to practise and compete close to home. This park is our answer. These new fields will directly address the shortage of available space in Ward 1 and citywide, giving our growing northwest communities the quality facilities they've been asking for." The project is expected to create 100 full-time equivalent jobs and contribute $11 million to the city's GDP, according to projections by Infrastructure Calgary's economic impact assessment model.
CBC
01-04-2025
- Politics
- CBC
Coun. Sonya Sharp joins race to be Calgary's next mayor
Ward 1 rep says she's focused on costs, safety and infrastructure Coun. Sonya Sharp is joining the race to be Calgary's next mayor. Sharp, a fiscal conservative, has long been considering a mayoral run. She made her plans official on Monday evening, during an event hosted by the Communities First political party at downtown restaurant The Rooftop. "I have spent almost my whole career here and I care about Calgary. And last year, when I started to see decisions being made by the majority — and including the mayor — that I was just like, this is not OK anymore, and we need a leader. We need leaders to lead and listen," Sharp said Monday. Sharp has been the Ward 1 councillor since 2021. She is the chair of the city's infrastructure and planning committee and council's event centre committee, the team dedicated to managing Calgary's arena deal. She will run under the Communities First party banner. The upcoming civic election in Calgary will be the first to allow political parties. On council, Sharp has found herself at loggerheads with Mayor Jyoti Gondek at various times, including amid debate over the Green Line LRT revisions and during the city's contentious rezoning saga. The Communities First party formed in December. Alongside Sharp, the party also includes current councillors Andre Chabot, Dan McLean and Terry Wong. Should a majority of its candidates be elected, it has promised an "expedited repeal of blanket rezoning." "It's a bad policy. It needs to go, and, if re-elected, I intend to introduce a motion to repeal it at our first regular meeting of council," Chabot said in a release. Sharp said if she is elected mayor, she'll focus on affordability, public safety and critical infrastructure. "We have missed countless opportunities to plan for the future," she said. Sharp becomes the fifth person to join the race for mayor. Gondek, former city councillors Jeff Davison and Jeromy Farkas, and Brian Thiessen, former chair of the Calgary Police Commission, have all already launched bids. Election nominations are open until Sept. 22, and Calgarians will go to the polls on Oct. 20.
