The Land Use Bylaw Renewal project is back!

More than 1,400 residents and stakeholders have provided feedback to help shape the future of the Land Use Bylaw in Lethbridge. Now the City wants to make sure we heard the Phase 2 feedback loud and clear.

“This survey is the third and final survey for Phase 2 of the project,” says Genesis Molesky, Senior Planner and Project Manager. “This time, the survey lays out several proposed changes the City could pursue in the renewal of its Land Use Bylaw, based on feedback we received in earlier rounds of engagement.”

Hot topics in previous surveys included everything from people wanting to see a reduction of red tape for commercial and industrial developments, feeling concerned about housing affordability, to also being concerned about densification. When it comes to parking, feedback shows people believe it’s important to ensure residential developments of all types provide an appropriate number of parking spaces for their residents.

“We heard that most respondents are very concerned about housing affordability,” says Molesky. “So, while having minimum parking requirements can improve convenience for motorists, they also impact housing affordability. Creating parking spaces costs the developer thousands of dollars per space, and that cost is passed on to the renter or homeowner. The proposed changes attempt to balance the reduction of the regulatory barriers to address housing unaffordability while ensuring that community concerns are addressed.”

The proposed changes in the current survey are based on five topics:
•    Housing
•    Local Businesses & the Economy
•    Downtown
•    Parking
•    Notifications

One consistent piece of feedback was that most people find the current Land Use Bylaw complex and difficult to understand, which is a barrier to development.

“If you want it to be easier to add that secondary suite to your home or open a new business in your neighbourhood, now is the time to provide your feedback,” says Mayor, Blaine Hyggen.  “The information gathered in this survey will help inform City Council decisions about the future of the Land Use Bylaw and shape the future of Lethbridge.” 

The Land Use Bylaw sets out the rules for what kind of building or activity can take place on private property and outlines the process for issuing Development Permits that give approval for new buildings and activities. Residents would typically interact with the Land Use Bylaw if they were planning to build on their property or move their business. 

Complete the survey now and check out the What We Heard Report by heading to GetInvolvedLethbridge.ca/lub

Prefer to talk to someone in person? Be sure to drop by the Open House on Wednesday, June 18 at the Galt Museum & Archives between 3 – 7 p.m. You can also stay informed by subscribing to the Land Use Bylaw Renewal newsletter at GetInvolvedLethbridge.ca/lub. 

For Public Inquiries: 
Call 311 | Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.