City’s new planning Notices aim to hit the mark with citizens

Calgarians are often interested in learning more about applications to redesignate (rezone) a land use, or develop a site in their community. To inform Calgarians about these applications, The City of Calgary places a Notice (sign) on the property.

 A new Notice is being piloted this summer, and The City wants to know what citizens think about the new design. Last year alone, The City posted Notices for 1, 377 development permits and 436 land use redesignations.

New template for Notice Posting

“We want to build Calgary together. We can do this by helping citizens learn about an application, and encouraging them to get involved,” says Brandy MacInnis, senior special projects officer with The City’s Planning & Development department.

“Thanks to the input received last year, the Notices were improved and The City is seeking citizen input to ensure it is simple, informative and directs Calgarians to resources to learn more or get involved,” notes MacInnis.

A larger version of the notice is being piloted this summer and measures four feet by eight feet. These Notices may be used for large scale redesignation or development permit applications. In addition, a number of smaller Notices, measuring two feet by three feet, will be piloted in communities in Calgary.

A few changes made to the Notices include:

1. Plain language text that describes the proposed redesignation or development permit application.
2. Visual map that clearly identifies the property included in the proposed application.
3. Clear direction to resources to learn more or to get involved. 

“We want to validate these improvements with Calgarians, so we’re hoping they’ll take a quick and easy survey before September 15, to tell us what they think,” says MacInnis.

Calgarians are encouraged to take an online survey or provide comments at an upcoming Planning & Development event.

Take our quick five minute survey by visiting calgary.ca/noticeposting

Construction begins at Prairie Winds Park

Construction is now starting at Prairie Winds Park to get that much needed facelift that you helped shape by sharing what you wanted to see in your park.

Click on the image to enlarge and view.

The upgraded park will have new features like a lookout at the top of the toboggan hill and better access into the park. We are also relocating the tennis courts to the southeast corner of the park, which people told us is an underused area. We’re adding lighting there too to extend the hours people can play.

Revitalizing a well-loved park

Other new elements of the park include an exciting new playscape, new wading pool with a lazy river, and a junior-sized cricket pitch that will replace the existing baseball diamond – just to name a few.

Prairie Winds Park has been a well-loved and well-used park in Calgary’s northeast for the past 25 years. The redevelopment of the park will revitalize and provide it with much-needed upgrades and improvements so it can continue serving the growing communities around it.

Being active and healthy are important to your quality of life. Having an upgraded space at Prairie Winds Park gives Calgarians another space to get out, be active and adopt a healthy lifestyle.

Construction closures

While construction is happening, certain areas of the park will be closed to the public. Closures and construction updates will be provided at calgary.ca/prairiewindspark and on Twitter using #prairiewindspark.

Construction is expected to be completed by the summer of 2017.

Submitted by Erin Martinez, Parks