Hundreds of people attend SE councilors' meetings to voice their concerns about the rezoning proposal

Hundreds of people attended two meetings this week organized by veteran city councilor Peter Demong about the city's proposal to expand a wide swath of Calgary to build more housing.

The proposal would change the zoning of more than 300,000 properties currently assessed for single-family homes to allow for townhouses, semi-detached houses and row houses.

This is just one of the ideas included in the city's new housing strategy, which was approved by the city council last September. A public hearing and a separate council vote are required to implement the rezoning plan.

Demong's meetings were held at Lake Bonavista on Tuesday and Midnapore on Thursday. Hundreds of people attended each session.

And it became known that they do not support the proposal to change the zone.

He is afraid of the consequences

Concerns were raised about the lack of consultation, potential impacts on property values, parking and infrastructure.

“Everybody I've contacted across town doesn't know the difference between R-1 and R-CG (zoning),” said one woman.

“You're going to have tiny houses all over the place, it's ruining everyone's home values. You've ruined their neighborhood. Look!” said one resident.

Another woman pleaded with Demong: “We pay our taxes. We always do. Leave us alone.”

Demong said he called the meetings to learn about how people in his district feel about the proposal, to let them know about the redistricting and to answer their questions about it.

He said he wasn't surprised to find no support for rezoning at the meetings.

“I understand that. I understand that. I don't want this to go forward either. This is their home. This is where they live and we're talking about coming in at some point and changing the fabric of the community. Don't agree with that,” Demong said.

He reminded the crowd that he voted against the new housing strategy last year, which the council approved 12-3.

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An open mind

Demong was also one of six council members who pushed their colleagues to put the rezoning issue to a plebiscite in conjunction with the October 2025 municipal election. Their efforts were defeated by an 8-6 vote of the City Council.

Still, Demong was quick to admit he needed to keep an open mind ahead of this month's public hearing.

“I've voted against it twice and I'm still going to be persuasive because that's my job. I will sit there. I listen to people and come to the best conclusion with the facts in front of me.”

Discussions are already underway in the council on ways to amend the proposal.

Demong has his own ideas.

“I would argue that you can't have (both) a backyard suite and an extra suite in this R-CG,” Demong said. “I think I'll try to do something with the parking lot, but I don't know if I'll be successful there.”

The councilor urges residents to inquire about the proposed rezoning.

There is false information

He acknowledged there are still many questions and, based on what he's heard at meetings this week, many people have misconceptions about what it does and doesn't include.

“I am always concerned about misinformation in society. It's something I struggle with every day in every aspect of my work.”

A number of his council colleagues have already held community meetings on the area's renewal plan.

District 3 next week. Jasmin Mian will hold a virtual meeting during Kuhn on Monday. On Thursday, Andre Chabot will hold a town hall meeting in the 10th Ward.

The City Council will hold a marathon public hearing on the proposed rezoning starting April 22.