On April 12, 2022, city administration will present its fourth Zoning Bylaw Renewal Report to city council's urban planning committee. This report outlines the proposed new zones and plans for future public engagement.

An updated timeline has been released with a roll-out of the new zoning bylaw anticipated for January 2024.

What might all this mean for Ritchie?

• The preliminary draft zoning bylaw reduces the number of residential zones to 20 from 46 and eliminates the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay.

• Three small-scale residential zones will be created with the RS2 zone replacing the existing RF1, RF2, RF3 and RF4 zones.

• New mixed-use zones have been created to encourage varying scales of mixed-use development with a street-oriented, pedestrian-friendly focus.

Have your say!

This year also brings multiple opportunities to engage with city administration on the zoning bylaw renewal. Community engagement is scheduled, in various forms, throughout 2022.

• Stakeholder meetings or roundtables, January - June 2022.

• Engaged Edmonton platform opportunities for feedback, May 2022 - November 2023.

• Information Sessions, August or September, 2022 (will this include the opportunity to review the Draft Zoning Bylaw, or detailed illustrated comparison of current and proposed zoning).

• Surveys online, August 2022. Workshops, September - November, 2022.

• Council Meetings & Public Hearings, 2022 & 2023.

NOTE: You must register with the Zoning Bylaw Renewal Initiative and Engaged Edmonton to receive notifications on engagement or surveys.

Details

Greater Range of Housing Types

The preliminary draft of the Zoning Bylaw reduces the number of residential zones from to 20 from 46 and eliminates the Mature Neighbourhood Overlay. Three small-scale residential zones will be created with the RS2 zone replacing the existing RF1, RF2, RF3 and RF4 (in redeveloping areas) zones. The most significant physical change is the introduction of apartments and row housing in the small scale zone for redeveloping areas.

• RS2 - Small Scale Residential 2
  Purpose: To allow for a variety of small-scale housing in neighbourhoods where redevelopment opportunities are occurring or expected to occur. Some limited commercial and community services uses are allowed in the zone to provide local services to residents.
  What types of development can this zone enable?
  Single detached housing, semi-detached housing, garden suites, secondary suites, row housing, small apartments, supportive housing, lodging houses, community services, child care facilities and small businesses in specified locations.

• Mixed Use Zones
  New mixed use zones have been created to encourage varying scales of mixed-use development with a street-oriented, pedestrian-friendly focus.
  NMU - Neighbourhood Mixed Use
  Purpose: To allow for small-scale mixed-use buildings, up to four storeys in height, within neighbourhood commercial centres and to improve the pedestrian-oriented nature of these areas.
  What types of development can this zone enable?
  Four-storey mixed-use main street developments, with ground-level commercial and residential development above. This zone would likely be applied to the current CNC zoning for the Ritchie Market / Four Corners area.

  GMU - General Mixed Use
  Purpose: To allow for mixed-use development of varying scales that enables the growth and development anticipated in the nodes and corridors directed by The City Plan. This zone allows for a range of uses and supports housing, recreation, commerce and employment opportunities. The site and building design in this zone promotes transit-oriented development that addresses the street to create vibrant, walkable destinations at a scale comfortable for pedestrians.
  What types of development can this zone enable?
  A range of low, medium and high-rise buildings in nodes and corridors. This zone will likely be something we will see in West Ritchie, along the corridors of 99th Street or Whyte Avenue identified in the City Plan.