District Planning Public Engagement

The multi-year District Planning engagement concluded in December 2023. View the Phase 3 District Planning What We Heard/What We Did Report to learn more about how your feedback informed the final revisions to the proposed District Policy and plans.

Public Hearing Outcome and Next Steps

City Council heard from over 100 speakers during the five-and-a-half-day District Planning Public Hearing which concluded on June 26, 2024.

District Policy and 14 of the District Plans

The District Policy and 14 out of the 15 district plans passed first and second readings with City Council voting to advance them with some minor amendments. These included:

Updating the District Policy to include a statement that the District Policy and the district plans shall not restrict freedom of movement, association, and commerce in accordance with the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms

Changing District Policy 2.5.2.6 to combine the criteria for corner sites and open spaces/parks (criteria e and f) into a single criterion

Amending the District Policy and 14 district plans to reflect the renaming of the 118 Avenue District to the North Central District

The City will make these amendments and take the District Policy and the 14 plans to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB) for approval under the Regional Evaluation Framework. This process takes approximately two months.

The Policy and plans will then return to a regular City Council meeting in fall 2024 for third and final reading. If approved at this reading, the Policy and 14 plans will come into effect immediately.

Rabbit Hill District Plan

The Rabbit Hill District Plan was referred back to City administration for more significant changes, including:

Amending the maps and policy to support the preparation of statutory plans for non-residential development for lands located south of 73 Avenue SW/Township Road 510 and west of Whitemud Creek

Preparing any amendments to The City Plan needed to support the preparation of statutory plans for non-residential development on these lands

Once the changes are made to the Rabbit Hill District Plan, it will return to a full Public Hearing for first and second reading. Edmontonians will be informed when the revised plan advances to Public Hearing, providing them the opportunity to share their thoughts directly with Council by registering to speak or submitting written comments.

The plan will then follow the same process as the other plans. It will be reviewed by the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB) and then return to a regular City Council meeting for third and final reading before coming into effect.

April 2024 Information Sessions

Thank you to everyone who participated in the April 22, 23, and 24 District Planning information and Q&A sessions. While these sessions were not intended to solicit feedback on the draft plans, comments will be relayed to Council for their awareness at the upcoming Public Hearing. Watch the information session presentation video.

Engagement Timeline

View the District Planning Engagement Summary for an overview of all engagement activities since the start of the project.

Phase 4: Finalize and Recommend Plans (January - June 2024) - We Are Here

Phase 4 was about sharing the updated draft 2024 Policy and plans in advance of public hearing.
Public information and Q&A sessions were held on April 22, 23 and 24, 2024 to help Edmontonians learn more about District Planning, the changes made to the final draft District Policy and plans since 2023, and how to participate in the upcoming public hearing. Comments received will be summarized and relayed to Council for their awareness at the Public Hearing.
- Watch the information session presentation video.
May 28-30 and June 5, 25 and 26: Edmontonians were provided the opportunity to share their perspectives on the proposed District Policy and 15 district plans with Council by speaking at the Public Hearing or submitting written comments.
- The District Policy and 14 of the 15 district plans and the associated existing geographic plans to be amended or retired passed first and second reading by City Council. The Rabbit Hill District Plan was referred back to City administration for more significant changes.

Phase 3: ADVISE-level Engagement (late October - December 2023)

Phase 3 sought Advise-level feedback on the changes made to the draft District Policy, district plans and list of geographic plans proposed to keep, change or retire since the Phase 2 engagement in 2022.
Read the Phase 3 What We Heard/What We Did Report to learn more about the feedback received and how it influenced changes to inform the final draft Policy and plans.

Phase 2: REFINE-Level Engagement (June - November 2022)

Phase 2 was about hearing Edmontonians’ ideas and feedback on how the draft District Policy, and district plan policy and map content should be adapted or adjusted to ensure alignment with The City Plan direction and existing planning documents.
From June to August 2022, Refine-Level feedback was sought on the 2022 version of the draft District Policy. The District Policy was released early to allow Edmontonians ample time to review and share their feedback on the policies that would inform how change is expected to happen within their district.
From September to November 2022, Refine-Level feedback was sought on the draft 2022 version of the District Policy, 15 district plans and list of existing geographic plans proposed to be retired or changed.
Read the Phase 2 What We Heard Report
Read the Overview of Changes 2023 document for all changes to the 2022 draft Policy and plans as a result of feedback received.

Phase 1: District Policy and Plan Prototype Testing (January - July 2021)

Phase 1 was about introducing the District Planning project, how it contributes to The City Plan’s implementation and gathering questions and initial impressions.
From February to May 2021, The City Plan’s core stakeholders tested the structure, organization, level of detail and appearance of sample prototypes for the District Policy and three district plans.
- Read the Prototype What We’re Hearing Report
From June to July 2021, hosted 8 public information sessions to introduce District Planning to Edmontonians and community and industry groups
- Read the Information Session Recap

City Plan Engagement (2018-2020)

The City Plan was developed based on technical studies, policy development and over 2 years of Create and Refine level engagement with thousands of Edmontonians.
During these engagements, Edmontonians shared their desire to live more locally in a “Community of Communities.”
This is why The City Plan introduced a new planning geography called districts - collections of diverse neighbourhoods where Edmontonians can strengthen their connections and meet most of their daily needs closer to home.
The District Planning project translates The City Plan’s policies and applies them at the district level to guide future growth. Therefore, the project is implementing The City Plan’s vision rather than introducing new ideas or visions.

District Planning Public Engagement

Public Hearing Outcome and Next Steps

District Policy and 14 of the District Plans

Rabbit Hill District Plan

April 2024 Information Sessions

Engagement Timeline

District Planning Newsletter

Contact Us

District Planning Team

District Planning Public Engagement

Public Hearing Outcome and Next Steps

District Policy and 14 of the District Plans

Rabbit Hill District Plan

April 2024 Information Sessions

Engagement Timeline

District Planning Newsletter

Related Documents

District Planning Engagement Summary

District Planning Phase 3 Engagement What We Heard/What We Did

Land Use Statutory Public Hearing Quick Guide

Related Links

Public Engagement at the City

Contact Us

District Planning Team