The City of Calgary is proposing a recent Council initiative to take action to address vacancy rates for office and retail in our Centre City Area. In November 2016, The City investigated opportunities to make it easier for businesses to occupy vacant space in our Centre City by suspending the need for development permits. This included suspending parking requirements and other conditions that apply to certain types of land uses. This initiative is to encourage pop-up businesses in currently underutilized spaces in the Centre City area and allow additions of a certain area to be exempt.
The bylaw amendments are to be considered directly (not through CPC) by Council on June 12, 2017.
In summary, the proposed bylaw amendment 30P2017 ) will do the following:
- Establish the boundary of the Enterprise Area (see map attached to the Proposed Bylaw) – it does not include East Village, Chinatown and most of Eau Claire
- Deletes the requirement for a development permit for a change of use within the Enterprise Area, provided it is a listed use in the district
- Deletes the requirement for a development permit for an alteration or addition less than 1,000 square metres in size, provided it complies with the rules of Land Use Bylaw 1P2007
Some important limitations that have been added to the bylaw include:
- Custodial Care, Liquor Stores, Medical Marihuana Counselling, Nightclub, Pawn Shop, Payday Loan uses will still require a development permit
- properties that are on the Inventory of Evaluated Historic Resource will still require a development permit for alterations and additions (but not for changes of use)
- certain sensitive uses within 30 metres of a rail corridor will still require a development permit
The bylaw is a balance of enabling an easier flow of businesses into vacant spaces and small additions to enable new businesses and to maintain oversight over sensitive uses in certain areas.
If you want to know more about this initiative, we encourage you to:
- Attend an informal drop-in session on May 30, 2017 from 4:30p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Urban Strategy Office Space (formerly the Triangle Gallery) at the Municipal Plaza, 800 Macleod Trail SE, where City staff will be happy to discuss the details with you at your convenience (see Map attached).
- Invite the City to a meeting of your organization at your convenience.
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Phone or e-mail me to discuss or set –up a time to discuss in person at your convenience.
Thom Mahler, Manager, Urban Strategy
T 403.268.6481
E Thom.Mahler@calgary.ca