Edmonton is a city at the forefront of urban planning innovation. In recent years, it has become a model for others thanks to a variety of bold urban initiatives. In this article on edmonton-future, we’ll explore some of these forward-thinking solutions.
The 2020 City Plan
In 2020, Edmonton adopted “The City Plan,” a comprehensive framework for the city’s future. The primary goal of this project is to guide Edmonton’s growth as it moves toward a population of 2 million people. The plan serves as a roadmap for implementing values identified through extensive community engagement. These core values include: belonging and contributing, living in a city that feels like home, having opportunities to prosper, ensuring greater accessibility for all, preserving what is important, and having the freedom to create and innovate.
The City Plan combines a Municipal Development Plan, a Transportation Master Plan, and a strategic direction for environmental planning. It also integrates social and economic planning. The framework focuses on building a climate-resilient city with lower emissions and a robust transportation network, ensuring that the ambitious growth to 2 million residents is achieved sustainably.
Projects like the Community Energy Transition Strategy and the Zoning Bylaw Renewal are some of the first steps in bringing this plan to life. This is the city’s first clear, forward-looking vision for its future. It ensures that Edmonton will face many new opportunities and challenges—which is a good thing, as a city cannot remain static. The municipal government has made a deliberate choice to evolve into a more urban, healthier, and prosperous city.
Zoning Renewal
In 2023, Edmonton overhauled its zoning laws for the first time since the 1960s, unlocking new possibilities for urban development. While news like this often seems dull and “bureaucratic,” this initiative actually has a major impact on residents’ lives. In short, the new rules allow for the construction of duplexes, townhouses, and small apartment buildings in neighbourhoods previously reserved for single-family homes. This increased density also promotes the creation of more public spaces.
This is a crucial step toward making the city more livable. It will create more space for community amenities, making all neighbourhoods more vibrant. Furthermore, it has a positive environmental impact by curbing urban sprawl. Another advantage is that denser development reduces the cost of servicing neighbourhoods, allowing for more efficient use of the city budget.
The previous Zoning Bylaw was last updated in 1961, when the city’s population was just 276,000. By 2023, Edmonton was home to over 1 million people, making these reforms long overdue.
Community Energy Transition Strategy
The Community Energy Transition Strategy is Edmonton’s blueprint for mitigating the effects of climate change. The strategy was approved by City Council in 2021 and centres on four transformational pathways: transitioning to renewable and resilient energy, constructing net-zero buildings, building a low-carbon city and transportation system, and implementing effective nature-based solutions.
Ultimately, Edmonton is demonstrating how urban planning can respond to modern challenges while staying focused on sustainable development and quality of life. Through The City Plan, Edmonton is gradually transforming into a more convenient, accessible, and inclusive environment. These initiatives are the result of forward-thinking policy that considers the interests of all residents.