Edmonton Journal has reported:

Mayors from Sturgeon County, Strathcona County and Fort Saskatchewan said residents have given them significant negative feedback about how their municipalities are handling population growth. They discussed the pressure during a Thursday gathering of municipal leaders at the Royal Glenora Club, as Edmonton and its surrounding communities face rising housing demand and development.

Sturgeon County Mayor Alanna Hnatiw described a common message from residents in response to host Andrew Usenik’s question about what constituents say most often about growth. “(People tell me) we moved here for the country lifestyle - don’t build anything else around us,” she said.

Strathcona County Mayor Rod Frank and Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Lisa Makin said they face an ongoing challenge in balancing the immediate concerns of current residents with the needs of future growth. The discussion was part of a regional leaders gathering to hear BILD Edmonton Metro’s State of the Region report.

The report found housing starts across Alberta rose 130.8 per cent from 2020 to 2025. It also showed that housing types are changing across the region: outside Edmonton, row house numbers increased 655.7 per cent, while apartment permit applications rose 600 per cent. Both rates exceeded growth in Edmonton itself.

Edmonton issued building permits worth $3.2 billion in 2025, far more than any other municipality in the region. Spruce Grove was second, issuing $289.2 million in permits, less than one-tenth of Edmonton’s total economic activity from permits.

The report also compared home prices and property taxes. Edmonton’s median home price was $415,000, the third-lowest in the capital region. Homes were less expensive in Edmonton than in Leduc, Stony Plain, Spruce Grove and Beaumont; only Devon and Morinville had lower median prices.

Fort Saskatchewan’s median home price was $449,949, while St. Albert’s was $499,900. Prices were higher in Leduc County, at $678,000, and Sturgeon County, where the average home cost $708,000. Edmonton’s estimated annual property tax bill for a median home was $4,207.73, placing the city in the middle of the region. Fort Saskatchewan homeowners could expect to pay about $600 less each year, while those in St. Albert could pay more than $1,400 more.

Permit approval times varied widely. Edmonton took an average of 53.8 days, the slowest turnaround in the region and more than twice the 26-day average in both Strathcona County and Parkland County. Sturgeon County had the fastest average, at five days to approve a development.

Panelists said the abolition of the Edmonton Municipal Region Board had contributed to more siloed development. BILD Metro CEO Kalen Anderson said BILD would launch a regional strategy in the new year to address the gap left by the board.

Frank said his municipality was not seeking guidance and described regional diversity as both a strength and a challenge. “In some ways it would be a real advantage to have unity and deal with one political entity - we have 13 here,” he said. “This gives a lot of choice to residents and businesses.”

He said residents want strong municipal services while resisting tax increases. “What folks want is excellence in municipal services - but don’t raise my taxes. That’s a real challenge.”