Seismic shifts in Roseburn

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Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-30 16:18:13.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure]

Strata Developments has launched the new 10-year residential community of Roseburn in Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, spanning 1,250 total homes across 250 initially serviced lots. The community features a major recreational attraction called Volcano Park, designed by Play Envy, and incorporates innovative steel-framed housing construction provided by builder Cantiro Homes to enhance structural resilience against extreme weather. Additional builders involved in the project include Akash Homes, Bedrock Homes, and Super Homes, with a formal grand opening scheduled for spring 2027.

Dormant site of cancelled Downtown high-rise listed at $4 million

This article is new today!

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-30 11:07:29.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Taxation]

The dormant $34-million high-rise development site at 121 Street and 102 Avenue in Edmonton, originally planned by Open Sky Developments as a 22-storey apartment complex with 185 units, has been listed for sale at $4 million by JLL after being abandoned by its former contractor. Ward O-day-min Councillor Anne Stevenson noted that the property narrowly avoided Edmonton's derelict commercial property tax subclass due to legal definitions regarding land improvements, prompting municipal officials to petition the provincial government to amend legislation to allow higher tax rates for abandoned commercial parcels.

Some mature neighbourhoods could see 100-unit infills under provincial decree, warns city

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-29 22:28:30.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance]

The City of Edmonton warned that a provincial infill directive could inadvertently force mature and residential small-scale neighbourhoods to revert to older zoning bylaws, potentially allowing developments of up to 100 units or 16-plexes without height or unit caps. City administration stated that complying with the 90-day timeline mandated by the province's order in council would require cutting public engagement short and pulling staff away from four-year budget deliberations. In response, Edmonton City Council voted 12-1 to present the Minister of Municipal Affairs with two options, including a hybrid approach and the strict letter-of-the-law directive, while requesting written clarification on the province's intent.

'Rebuilding trust': Mayor Knack meets with premier and cabinet ministers

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 21:11:54.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Social Services]

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack met with Premier Danielle Smith, Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, and Finance Minister Jason Nixon to discuss municipal priorities and rebuild trust following the provincial government's decision to overrule the City of Edmonton's zoning bylaw regarding multi-family residential infill. Alongside discussions on housing, Mayor Knack and Edmonton City Council advanced advocacy efforts for greater municipal political autonomy and increased partnership powers under the Canadian Constitution. The meetings also addressed broader municipal priorities including day spaces for the homeless population and measures to improve urban safety and affordability.

Council pushes for new city autonomy, but dissenters warn city will damage its relationship with the province

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-27 20:54:45.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Governance, Housing, Transportation]

By a 9-3 vote, the Edmonton City Council passed a motion introduced by Councillor Aaron Paquette to lobby the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, the Big City Mayors, and Alberta Municipalities for expanded municipal autonomy and greater local powers. The push comes in response to provincial interventions by the Government of Alberta under the City Charter, including mandates to overhaul zoning bylaws for infill housing and potential alterations to municipal bike-lane and photo radar strategies. Dissenting councillors, including Thu Parmar, warned that the advocacy would damage intergovernmental relations with the province and conflict with public opinion, citing a Leger poll indicating that 54 per cent of Edmontonians were indifferent to the infill dispute.

West Jasper Place upzoning stirs debate around infill marching orders from province

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-26 22:20:51.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Governance]

The Edmonton City Council voted 9-4 to approve a medium-scale upzoning application by developer Kunj Investment at 9941 150 Street NW, permitting a four-storey development with a 16-metre height limit. The approval comes amid friction with provincial oversight, as Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams ordered the city to revert its residential small-scale zoning bylaw back to previous 2023 standards while giving the municipality 18 months to draft a compliant replacement. While city planners and housing advocates argued that increased density near transit nodes like the future LRT station is necessary, local opponents criticized the council for approving infill projects immediately prior to addressing the provincial zoning orders.

Investors in limbo as Edmonton mayor cautions premier's infill edict will cost jobs

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-23 20:31:11.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Economy, Governance]

Alberta Municipal Affairs Minister Don Williams issued an order in council requiring the cities of Edmonton and Calgary to roll back their zoning and land-use bylaws. Under the provincial directive, Edmonton has three months from Oct. 22 to revert its zoning to residential small scale matching pre-2024 standards and 18 months to draft a new zoning bylaw meeting ministerial expectations, while Calgary must reinstate its low-density residential districts within three months and write a new land-use bylaw by Sept. 1. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack cautioned that the sudden directive will harm affordability, stall active developments, and impact construction sector jobs. Industry representatives, such as Synergy Capital group manager Akith Dissanayake, noted that numerous clients who spent hundreds of thousands of dollars on the city permitting process now face severe uncertainty and sunk costs.

Council requests premier's infill edict in writing 'as soon as possible'

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 22:06:47.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure, Finance]

Following an executive directive from Alberta Premier Danielle Smith ordering Edmonton City Council to rescind its zoning bylaw regarding small-scale residential (RS) zones, Edmonton City Council voted 12-1 on a motion demanding the province provide the order in writing. City administration projects the forced regulatory reversal will cost Edmontonians between $420 million and $610 million in construction business next year, halt over 2,000 rowhouse dwelling units, cut municipal planning and development reserves from $40 million to $25 million by 2030, and cost between $5 million and $10 million to implement under the Municipal Government Act.

Western defence hub marshals housing plans in Edmonton

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 14:07:07.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Defence, Economy]

Edmonton is preparing for a major housing and economic surge driven by federal military spending increases toward a NATO five per cent benchmark, positioning CFB Edmonton as Canada's primary manoeuvre division. The expansion will bring an estimated 5,000 troops and their families to the region, complementing over 1,000 new military housing units and projects like a $22.5 million net-zero-emissions-ready apartment development at CFB Edmonton. Local homebuilders and developers are gearing up for increased housing demand beginning in late 2027, supported by municipal infrastructure planning in areas like Marquis and Quarry South, as well as St. Albert receiving $28 million from the federal Build Communities Strong Fund for regional servicing.

Architects say good design could solve Edmonton's infill problems

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-16 11:00:43.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure]

The City of Edmonton utilized $500,000 from the federal housing accelerator fund to commission architects to develop a standardized catalogue of seven infill housing designs tailored for mature neighbourhoods. Revealed during Edmonton Design Week, the initiative aims to increase housing supply, streamline permit approvals, and improve design quality by blending with existing neighbourhood aesthetics like bungalows. The project coincides with provincial scrutiny and potential restrictions on municipal infill policies announced by the Government of Alberta under Premier Danielle Smith.

Small-town mayors face growth backlash as Edmonton grapples with population surge

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-15 21:49:05.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Infrastructure, Governance, Taxation]

According to the BILD Edmonton Metro 2026 State of the Region report, row house and apartment permits in regional Edmonton municipalities surged by over 600 per cent over a five-year period amid population growth. Regional leaders, including Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw, Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank, and Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin, highlighted constituent backlash against development and the ongoing challenge of balancing growth with demands for municipal services without raising property taxes. The data shows provincial housing starts increased 130.8 per cent between 2020 and 2025, with Edmonton issuing $3.2 billion in building permits in 2025, while regional municipalities experienced average permit turnaround times ranging from 5 to 26 days compared to Edmonton's 53.8 days.

Jasper wildfire recovery: the complex rebuild happening above and below the town's streets two years on from disaster

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-14 17:30:21.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Infrastructure, Housing, Emergency, Environment]

Two years following the July 2024 wildfires, the Municipality of Jasper continues its infrastructure and housing recovery efforts, spearheaded by Director of Recovery Douglas Olthof. The federal and Alberta governments announced $7.9 million on September 1 to recommission a wastewater lagoon, addressing storage capacity and flood risks. Recovery initiatives include property-specific soil testing supported by Parks Canada and the Canadian Red Cross, municipal neighbourhood-by-neighbourhood upgrades to curb stops and shut-off valves, and the addition of 45 new housing units through a newly approved apartment building. Concurrently, the municipality has launched a public Town Plan survey via engagejasper.ca, active until October 25, to replace the 2011 Jasper Community Sustainability Plan and guide future development.

Edmonton could be taking province to court over infill decree

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-13 20:29:40.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Justice]

Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack announced that the City of Edmonton is considering legal action against the provincial government following a directive from Premier Danielle Smith ordering Edmonton City Council to repeal its current zoning bylaw and reinstate the previous one within a three-month window. Mayor Knack stated that the provincial mandate forces councillors to violate Section 25 of the Municipal Government Act by requiring them to enter a mandated public hearing with predetermined voting instructions rather than an open mind. Furthermore, the city noted that the unexpected decree will force municipal staff to incur unbudgeted overtime costs to prepare the required reports and notices while simultaneously managing the city's four-year budget cycle.

Alberta Premier Smith calls out federal interference in Edmonton housing rules

Source: Alberta - Provincial Politics
Date: 2026-10-10 22:14:17.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith's provincial government directed the City of Edmonton to reverse its 2024 zoning bylaw changes within three months, citing federal interference through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. The former federal government program under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau offered millions in funding to fast-track over 5,200 housing units by streamlining zoning for multi-unit complexes in established neighbourhoods. Premier Smith criticized the federal funding as a bribe that disrupted local housing integrity, while municipal leaders criticized the provincial intervention as a threat to local democracy.

The infill standoff: How did Edmonton get here?

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-09 21:15:35.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure]

Premier Danielle Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams compelled Edmonton city council to alter its zoning bylaws, rolling back high-density infill approval processes to pre-2024 standards and reinstating mandatory parking minimums within three months. The provincial intervention followed intense neighbourhood pushback against multiplex developments of up to eight units in mature areas like Crestwood, Grovenor, and Glenora, alongside failed municipal motions such as Councillor Michael Janz's narrow 6-5 defeat in 2025 to cap mid-block developments at six units. Pro-infill groups like Grow Together Edmonton and the Infill Development in Edmonton Association (IDEA) argued that only one per cent of the city's residential stock had been redeveloped over three years, while neighbourhood advocacy groups successfully lobbied the provincial legislature over concerns regarding strain on municipal infrastructure, parking crunches, and building scale.

Edmonton mayor slams 'uninformed directive' after province intervenes on city infill rules

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-08 21:15:11.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Taxation]

Alberta Premier Danielle Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams issued a provincial directive forcing the City of Edmonton to roll back its recent infill housing policies and rewrite its zoning bylaws within 18 months. Edmonton Mayor Andrew Knack and municipal leaders criticized the intervention as an attack on municipal autonomy that will restrict housing growth, drive up property taxes, and increase housing and rental costs. City councillors including Erin Rutherford and Anne Stevenson raised concerns that the directive undermines years of planning consultations and shifts growth pressures toward costly suburban sprawl.

Edmonton must reverse infill rules, province says, citing property values

Source: Global News Politics
Date: 2026-10-08 19:31:15.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance, Infrastructure]

The Alberta government, led by Premier Danielle Smith and Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams, has ordered the City of Edmonton to reverse its 2023 residential infill and zoning bylaws within three months, reverting to pre-2020 parameters for housing types, density, height, and minimum on-site parking requirements. Edmonton will have 18 months to conduct a comprehensive review, public consultation, and industry collaboration regarding its land use policies following an influx of public complaints regarding property values and parking. Additionally, the province ordered the City of Calgary to maintain its current rules while completing its own broader land use review by 2027.

'We have to step in': Alberta orders Edmonton to roll back its infill policies

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-10-08 18:11:57.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance]

The Government of Alberta ordered the City of Edmonton to roll back its 2024 infill zoning policies, housing types, density, and height limits to pre-2024 rules within three months, and restore pre-2020 minimum on-site parking requirements. Premier Danielle Smith justified the provincial intervention by citing concerns over infrastructure capacity, neighbourhood density, and property values amid a projected population boom aiming for two million residents within 15 years. Municipal Affairs and the provincial cabinet will formalize the changes through an order in council, while giving Edmonton an 18-month window to review its land use bylaws. Meanwhile, Calgary was directed to maintain its ongoing review of bylaws after municipal councillors previously voted to overturn blanket rezoning.

Edmonton River Valley Coalition calls for dedicated spaces for encampments

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-30 20:11:26.0
Tags: [Municipal, Alberta, Housing, Social Services, Public Safety]

During the one-year review of Edmonton's public spaces bylaw, city officials reported that bylaw officers issued 7,904 trespassing tickets and approximately 1,900 bans in 2026 to date, carrying $600 fines and mandatory court appearances. Activists and advocacy groups, including the Can Man Dan Foundation and the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition, criticized the bylaw for criminalizing poverty and called on the City of Edmonton to fund sanctioned outdoor encampments and expand winter shelter access. In response, Edmonton City Council voted 4-1 to develop operating procedures to suspend the ban on loitering in transit stations during extreme winter weather activations.

'City does not seem to care': Edmonton infill protestors galvanized by Premier's words at citywide demonstrations

Source: Alberta - Edmonton Journal (Legislature & Capital)
Date: 2026-09-27 22:16:16.0
Tags: [Alberta, Municipal, Housing, Governance]

Residents in Edmonton against high-density, mid-block infill developments organized citywide protests following the City of Edmonton's 2024 zoning policy allowing buildings of up to eight units in established neighbourhoods. Premier Danielle Smith criticized the city's blanket rezoning on her radio show and announced she has asked Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams to investigate the issue. Protester groups such as Edmonton Neighbourhoods United argue that municipal changes, such as adjusted maximum heights and limits on lodging houses, are insufficient and are preparing an independent report on infill impacts.