Calgary could fast track four new community growth applications, adding roughly 5,000 new homes within the next few years.

The four growth applications – two in Glacier Ridge (Ward 2) and two in Belvedere (Ward 9) – were brought to the Feb. 27 Infrastructure and Planning Committee meeting, with admin recommendations that they be considered for approval with the upcoming November 2025 budget deliberations.

The new growth application process that Calgary recently adopted allows submissions when they’re ready, and for committee and council to consider them as they come in. Further, city councillors tied any final approval of those communities to budget discussions.

These four new growth areas only trigger a minimal amount of operating cash requirements, and no capital funding requirements. All four communities are served by infrastructure investments already made in these areas.

“All four of the growth applications before us today are what we would call operating-cost-only growth applications in that they don’t trigger a capital and immediate capital cost,” said Matthew Sheldrake, manager of growth and change strategy with the City of Calgary.

The question of whether they need to wait for the annual budget discussions was one of the key points in a recent growth application – lessons learned presentation, Sheldrake said. That was then taken to their executive leadership team to see if it was possible.

Kathy Oberg, vice chair of BILD Calgary Region, said that growth applications that don’t require capital funding shouldn’t be deferred.

“Delaying approvals until a budget cycle can add several months to the process, given that the full planning continuum already spans two to three years, and Calgary’s development cycle is highly seasonal, further delays risk missing key construction windows,” she told councillors.

“Every day counts in ensuring timely project delivery and maintaining housing affordability.”

The Glacier Ridge application require no operating funding in 2026 and only $117,000 estimated for 2027. Beyond that, upon full build out, they will require a combined $1.3 million in annual operating costs.

Belvedere requires $330,000 in operating costs in 2026, and then beyond that it would be another $2.1 million annually.

The applications may require future capital investments, with much of the costs recovered through the off-site levy program.

City admin said all of the growth applications will be net positive revenue generators in the future due to property tax uplift and franchise fee revenue.

Fast tracking can bring more homes to Calgary: Coun. Wyness

Ward 2 Coun. Jennifer Wyness said given Calgary’s growth rate, it makes sense to ensure there are enough houses for people moving to the city and keep housing costs relatively affordable.

“I think it’s important for a council that is trying to tackle putting more housing stock in the marketplace, we need to approve greenfield development and at a time it’s presented to us and allow the next steps to proceed and help reduce the carrying costs for development,” she said.

Ward 10 Coun. Andre Chabot said the east side of Calgary, where the Belvedere developments are, is among the fastest growing areas of the city.

“I think this is a very valuable addition to our city, and helps to mitigate some of the challenges that we’re facing from a housing perspective,” he said.

“These are probably the most affordable housing units that will be going up in our city in the foreseeable future.”

Ward 1 Coun. Sonya Sharp, chair of the IPC, said there is an opportunity to fast track these developments. When very little operating cash and no capital dollars are required, it makes no sense to hold them up.

“That’s how you remove red tape, is you look for those opportunities that’s not going to be an impact to your budget, and it would be an example of being able to kind of get out of the way so you can let builders and developers do what they need to do,” she said.

Committee members approved all four growth applications unanimously. They will now go to a full meeting of Calgary city council for consideration. At that time, decisions could be made on their immediate approval should a funding mechanism be found.