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Vacation Over Vote

Statement re: infill vote and Cartmell's vacation (July 9th)

Chair of the Urban Planning Committee and City Councillor for Ward papastew Michael Janz will be available Thursday July 10th to make a statement (please embargo and check against delivery).

After months of engagements, meetings, and community conversations, I proposed a critical change to our infill policy that would have limited mid-block infill builds from 8 to 6 units. It was clear the vote would be close, and in the end it failed because Councillor Cartmell went on vacation, skipping the final meeting of the Public Hearing in which infill policy was being discussed.

Despite committing publicly to supporting the change I proposed ("This is a modest but important course correction") and knowing it would be on the schedule for that meeting, Councillor Cartmell decided not to attend the meeting and the vote failed by one.

Worse yet, he repeatedly tries to blame the rest of his colleagues on Council rather than taking responsibility for his decision. He owes Edmontonians much more of an explanation than that.

After countless hours of work from Edmontonians (including those who attended the meeting to speak), my Council colleagues, and City administration, to say I am disappointed is a huge understatement.

Councillors know that meetings may go longer than scheduled, particularly on topics of high interest, and Councillors are expected to make adjustments to their schedules when it comes to a policy as critically important as infill is to so many residents. Edmontonians deserve Councillors that prioritize their concerns and show up to do the work.

Continuously improving infill policy is a critical job of council as we navigate a growing city facing housing pressures. I remain fully committed to listening to residents and showing up every single day to build a city that reflects the needs and perspectives I hear in those conversations.

Michael Janz

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Technical Background

City Council also approved a number of amendments to the RS Zone intended to improve the way mid-block row housing is built to address concerns raised by residents regarding the size, function, and design of infill housing. These include:

• Reducing the maximum building length
• Limiting the number of side entrances
• Increasing interior side setbacks for row housing and multi-unit housing
• Adjusting regulations for stairs in side yards
• Strengthening front and side facade design

City Council also approved District Plan Policy changes to guide rezoning applications for the RSM - Small-Medium Scale Transition Zone, tightening the rules around where more intensive small scale multi-unit housing can take place outside nodes and corridors.

These District Plan Policy changes mean larger three-storey multi-unit housing buildings within mature neighbourhoods will be targeted to corner lots near nodes and corridors, transit and major roadways. These sites are better suited to accommodate the increased scale and density of the RSM Zone.

Next Steps

Council passed a number of subsequent motions directing Administration to:

• Prepare a report on the implications of amending the maximum number of dwellings on an interior site in the RS Zone from eight to six, and explore alternative amendments in consideration of building size, community impact, proximity to nodes and corridors and mass transit stations and anticipated impact on housing supply and City Plan targets, and to engage with interested parties on any proposed changes.
• Prepare Zoning Bylaw amendments for a future omnibus to exempt entrances on the side of a building along interior side lot lines that abut an alley, interior public walkway or in other contexts as appropriate from the regulations related to maximum number of entrances in the RS - Small Scale Residential Zone.
• Provide a memo on how existing infill compliance programming will be adjusted to reflect growth in development activity and trends.
• Prepare an unfunded service package for consideration to reinstate the Infill Liaison team as part of the Fall 2025 Supplemental Operating Budget Adjustment.

For more information: edmonton.ca/zoningbylaw