Calgary council votes 12–3 to repeal blanket rezoning

Repeal takes effect August 4; federal funding now under review

Calgary city council voted overwhelmingly Wednesday to repeal blanket rezoning, concluding weeks of public hearings that drew 411 speakers and nearly 3,300 written submissions. The final vote was 12–3, with councillors Myke Atkinson, Nathaniel Schmidt and Andrew Yule in opposition.

Blanket rezoning — introduced in 2024 — had allowed multi-unit housing types such as rowhouses, townhouses and fourplexes on lots previously restricted to single-family homes. The repeal takes effect August 4, 2026. Properties with projects already approved or under construction under the blanket rezoning rules will be exempt.

What this means for Bowness

Like many of Calgary's established neighbourhoods, Bowness saw a wave of development applications proceed under blanket rezoning over the past two years. Any application submitted before August 4 will still be processed under the current land use rules. After that date, single-family zoning protections return — unless council introduces a replacement policy.

A neighbourhood divided

The repeal has drawn sharply different reactions from Bowness residents.

Bill Shepherd, a long-time community member, welcomed the decision. "I am glad to see that City Council is demonstrating some common sense for once," he told Bowness Today. "Something that needed to be done — it was getting out of hand. On my street alone there are two massive builds and it's sucking the history and the vibrancy right out of Bowness."

Shepherd's street is among several in Bowness where multi-unit developments replaced single-family homes under the 2024 rules.

Not all residents share his relief. Natalia Nodoroski moved to Bowness from Vancouver with her husband and two children, drawn by Calgary's comparatively lower housing costs. After touring roughly a dozen homes across the northwest, the neighbourhood won her over.

"Coming from Vancouver, the prices in Calgary for a new home are relatively affordable," she said. "We instantly fell in love with Bowness."

Nodoroski declined to comment on the repeal vote directly, but said she hopes the community continues welcoming new families while holding onto the qualities that first attracted them.

Mayor Farkas: "Restoring trust"

Mayor Jeromy Farkas, who campaigned on a promise to repeal and replace blanket rezoning, supported the vote and framed the outcome in terms of rebuilding public confidence. He has been clear, however, that repeal alone is not the end of the conversation — he intends to bring forward a replacement policy to guide future growth and density decisions across the city.

The dissent: Atkinson argues for a path forward

Councillor Myke Atkinson, one of three votes against the repeal, raised pointed concerns about what the decision signals for Calgary's long-term development. He argued that residents in higher-density neighbourhoods are already bearing a disproportionate share of the city's tax burden, while lower-density areas face no pressure to change.

"What are we here to do?" Atkinson asked council. "Are we here to preserve, or to steward a way to the future? And I do not believe that a repeal stewards a way forward."

Federal funding at risk

The repeal may carry a significant financial cost. The Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation (CMHC) had previously signalled that rolling back blanket rezoning could conflict with the terms of Calgary's Housing Accelerator Fund agreement — a $251 million federal commitment designed to accelerate housing construction.

Following Wednesday's vote, CMHC spokesperson David Harris confirmed in a statement that HAF funding is at risk if commitments under the agreement are not met or are reversed. The corporation said it continues to work with the city as it weighs a final decision on the funding.

What's next

The repeal takes effect August 4. Council has not yet introduced a replacement policy, though Mayor Farkas has indicated he will bring forward options for managing density and growth.

Bowness Today will continue to track council agenda items, community consultation notices, and any CMHC funding decisions affecting Bowness properties.