Cancelled! APPI Calgary Event - Innovation through Deregulation: High River's New Approach to Land Use Bylaws

To be rescheduled. Due to the complex topic the presenters prefer a live audience and this will not be offered as a webinar.

Innovation through Deregulation: High River’s New Approach to Land Use Bylaws

In 2017, after considerable public consultation, High River ventured into uncharted planning territory by passing a new Land Use Bylaw that is centered around people rather than cars, is non-prescriptive, encourages mixed-use and sets high urban design standards. High River passed its first Land Use Bylaw in 1980. It was updated several times prior to 2017 but the basic structure and underlying philosophy remained similar – favouring vehicles in the design of communities. This was reflected in characteristics such as low-density cul-de-sac suburbs, wide streets, and inadequate sidewalks that inhibited walkability, in addition to high parking requirements, and little room for flexibility and collaboration.  

We have made radical deregulation changes such as removing minimums for parking requirements and maximums for number of dwelling units per property, to provide for more flexibility, diversity, and accommodation to people at all stages of life, while at the same time, holding developers to high standards of urban design.

Learning objectives
•    Why traditional Land Use Bylaws no longer work for our changing society and diverse 
communities
•    High River’s experience and key changes to the Land Use Bylaw
•    The importance of monitoring results 
•    Success stories/lessons learned

Presented by:
Khalid Mohammed, RPP, MCIP, LEED AP ND, PhD, Manager of Planning & Development Services, Town of High River.

Sarah Peck, RPP, MCIP, Supervisor of Planning, Town of High River.

Christine Berger is a planning intern at the Town of High River, where she is currently leading the monitoring program for the Town’s new Land Use Bylaw.