At their September 8 regular meeting, Council accepted the Land Use Bylaw (LUB) Review – What We Heard Report: Spring & Summer 2026 as information. The report summarizes the public feedback received from 59 completed surveys collected between June 8 and July 1, 2026.
Key findings from first the two rounds of community engagement include:
- Clear support for simplifying the current Land Use Bylaw; however, responses indicate that changes should be intentional and transparent.
- Cautious support for higher-density residential development. Suggestions include that higher-density residential should go near schools, recreation spaces, and in newer neighbourhoods following comprehensive planning.
- A desire to focus commercial growth along highway corridors, particularly 50 Avenue. While a few respondents indicated that mixed-use development and neighbourhood commercial is desirable, most feel it is most appropriate along the highway corridors.
- A focus on paying attention to the bigger picture. Changes need to be aimed at making the rules understandable and development predictable. Consideration needs to be given the existing characteristics that make Calmar unique.
Next, Administration intends to draft a revised Land Use Bylaw while engaging with the community and affected stakeholders about potential rules and regulations. The next phase of community engagement will likely have two components: community engagement on the direction of rules and regulations, and engagement with the development industry and business owners. Additionally, we will be looking to ask internal departments and partner agencies about how the LUB review can support their objectives.
“Land use bylaws are living documents,” said Kevin Theriault, Planner I. “While working to create a strong framework for future development in the community, we recognize that the document may face unforeseen challenges and will require amendments as planning objectives evolve over time.”
A Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section has been included on the LUB Review web page to provide more information to the community.