Residents opposed to infill rallied in four Edmonton neighbourhoods Sunday, saying Premier Danielle Smith’s attention to the issue has given their campaign momentum. Demonstrators called for changes to the city’s zoning rules, which allow buildings of up to eight units in established neighbourhoods, and said they want action sooner than they believe Edmonton has delivered.

In Jasper Park, protesters gathered at a residential street corner near several multi-unit construction projects. Steven Lakey, a West Jasper Place resident, said it was reassuring to hear Smith take an interest after residents had tried to persuade city council to change course. “We’ve presented solutions, we’ve shown how our lives are impacted by this. We’ve suggested other ways in which this could be done, which would be acceptable to us,” Lakey said. “The city does not seem to care,” he added.

Edmonton’s 2024 zoning policy permits buildings with as many as eight units in developed neighbourhoods, subject to a requirement of at least 75 square metres of space per unit. Residents opposing the policy say larger buildings are bringing more cars, people and garbage into established areas, threatening neighbourhood character and property values. Some have also raised safety concerns about construction and alleged poor-quality building practices.

Smith addressed Edmonton’s approach last week on her Corus radio call-in show, Your Province Your Premier. “Edmonton went down the path of essentially blanket rezoning,” she said. “Calgary dealt with it by turfing most of their council and bringing in a new council,” Smith said. “Edmonton did not end up having that renewal on council. But now residents are impacted by it.” She said she had asked Municipal Affairs Minister Dan Williams to look into the issue.

About 60 people gathered beside a busy road in Parkview, holding picket signs that read “Blanket Zoning? No thanks” and called for “responsible infill.” One sign asked Smith to tour Edmonton infill sites. The protest was organized by Edmonton Neighbourhoods United, or ENU, a group whose representative Dallas Moravec said residents are angry and want changes without further delay.

“They’ve made a couple of small changes, but it’s not going far enough,” Moravec said. City council has approved zoning bylaw changes that reduce maximum building heights and address concerns about some new builds being used as lodging houses. Moravec said the adjustments have not met residents’ expectations and that progress is too slow.

In August, Ward Tastawiyiniwak Coun. Karen Principe called for city planners to study how multiplex infill affects property values. The report is expected by fall 2027. ENU is preparing its own report on infill, Moravec said, with publication planned in the coming weeks, ahead of the city’s findings.

Moravec said ENU is strictly non-partisan and wants to maintain good relationships with city leaders. He welcomed the province’s attention but said it was uncertain how Smith and Williams would proceed, given land use is a municipal responsibility. “It’s not in their lane because land use is a municipal jurisdiction. So I think they’re trying to figure out an angle or a pathway to come in,” Moravec said. “She’s now saying ‘we’re listening.’ But past that, we’re not sure,” he said.

Based on reporting by Edmonton Journal.