💸Proposed 2025 budget would divert over $500M from established communities to build more new sprawl developments
As we posted on November 14, 2024, Calgary City Council will soon be deciding on budget adjustments for 2025 and beyond, including whether to divert public funds from existing communities to build four more new suburban sprawl developments costing an additional $51.7-million in operating costs and $508-million in capital expenses.
City of Calgary Mid-Cycle 2023-2026 Budget Adjustments (C2024-1097) Figure 2 shows the locations of the four new proposed sprawl communities and the massive capital costs required if City Council decides to approve funding these new sprawl communities this November. Markups in red by Project Calgary.
💰Calgary already has enough new sprawl approved to build 127,390 homes
According to City of Calgary reports from May 2024, Calgary already has enough approved sprawl to build a totel of 127,390 new homes. This total includes a backlog of new sprawl developments for 51,408 new homes that requires a further $1.8-billion in funding to fully service with major utilities, fire and mobility infrastructure.
At the city's current projected five-year population growth rate of 1.5%/year (Calgary and Region Population Outlook 2024-2029) and average of 2.6/persons per household these currently approved sprawl developments alone make up a ~13 year supply of new homes for the city.
City of Calgary Report (IP2024-0568 Attachment 3) shows Calgary's Citywide land supply context indicating enough.
Adding yet more supply to the mix would only prolong the public payback for these communities at further expense to existing communities. As stated by City Administration:
"This infrastructure is funded through a mix of funding sources, only a portion of which is from off-
site levies. Availability of off-site levy funding and other funding sources impacts the timing of
infrastructure investments and delivery. This carries a risk of increasing the infrastructure deficit
which may lead to lower levels of service in approved communities."-City Administration (IP2024-0567, Attachment 6)
🌳More new sprawl developments increases Calgary's greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and reduces climate resiliency compared to development in existing neighbourhoods
Keystone Hills new sprawl development proposal on Calgary's northern fringe will cost taxpayers in existing communities $258M in infrastructure funding, much of which will not be recouped by suburban developers' off-site levies.
According to city reports:
"New community development increases greenhouse gas emissions at a faster pace than
established area development, which leads to increased climate risk by removing natural assets
that enhance resilience and increasing the exposure of infrastructure assets to climate hazards."-City Administration (IP2024-0567, Attachment 6)
