***The discussion has concluded, thank you for providing feedback for consideration. A What We Heard Report is now available which summarizes the feedback received.

The application will go to City Council Public Hearing for a decision on October 21, 2024. For more information, please visit these FAQs(External link) for Council meetings.***

Get involved!

You are invited to learn more about the application and share feedback online. The following engagement opportunities are open from May 21, 2024 until June 2, 2024.

  • Learn More about the application, how feedback is used and next steps
  • Ask a Question to the Project Planner any questions you have about the application
  • Share Your Thoughts about the application

What Happens Next

We will use feedback shared to make sure our review of the application is as complete as possible. After engagement is closed, feedback received will be summarized in a What We Heard report for City Council so that they know your perspective prior to making a decision.

Learn More

The City is reviewing an application to rezone the Blue Quill Surplus School Site located at 2710 and 2810 - 112 Street NW from the (RM h16) Medium Scale Residential Zone to the (RM h23) Medium Scale Residential Zone to allow for the development of multi-unit housing, including row housing and/or apartment housing. Key characteristics of the proposed RM h23 Zone include:

  • A maximum height of 23 meters (or approximately 6 storeys);
  • A minimum of 75 dwelling units per hectare; and
  • A maximum Floor Area Ratio of 3.0.

A black and white map of the area around the property that is proposed to be rezoned

The City received 20 surplus school sites from the Edmonton Public School Board in 2009 after they were no longer required for schools. In 2015, City Council designated 14 of the sites for affordable housing. The development of these sites is guided by policy C583A, which prioritizes:

  • Access to affordable housing
  • Increased housing choice
  • Integration of housing, services and amenities

Two surplus school sites have already been prepared for development and sold at below-market value to affordable housing providers. The remaining 12 surplus school sites will be developed over the next three years. This includes seeking Council’s approval of rezoning, subdivision, and municipal reserve removal, where required, and a below-market land sale to an affordable housing provider.

In spring 2024, the Housing Action Team is pursuing rezoning approval for five sites, including Blue Quill. For more information about the City’s efforts to create more affordable housing, please visit edmonton.ca/HousingDevelopments or email the Housing Action Team at affordablehousing@edmonton.ca.

A representation of the public engagement spectrum which shows the four roles of the public possible in City of Edmonton public engagement activities. A solid bar with four colour sections each one representing a different role of the public. From left to right on the bar: light blue is advise, teal is refine, purple is create and red is decide. The public is being asked to advise so the light blue portion of the bar which represents advise has the word advise bolded on it.

The role of the public when participating in engagement activities for proposed rezonings is at the ADVISE level of the City’s Public Engagement Spectrum. This means that the City will use any feedback that you share to:

  • Inform the City’s planning analysis and ensure all factors are taken into consideration
  • Help inform conversations with the applicant about making revisions to address concerns
  • Summarize feedback for City Council so they are aware of the public’s perspectives prior to making a decision at Public Hearing

A What We Heard report that summarises the feedback received is posted online and provided to the Ward Councillor as well as anyone who registers and provides feedback through this page or by contacting the file planner directly.

City planners use the Public Engagement Charter for rezonings as a guide when determining what type of engagement activities are most appropriate to help inform rezoning proposal reviews.

Please Note: Because standard zones apply to multiple sites across the city, the City cannot adjust or customize the individual regulations within these zones for a specific site. When rezoning to a Direct Control zone, there is opportunity for public engagement to inform adjustments to the proposed regulations because these zones apply to a specific site or area only.

Public Hearing

Once the City completes its review and recommendation and the applicant is ready to take the application to City Council for a decision, the City sets a Public Hearing date. Notices will be sent to all residents within 120 meters of the lands being rezoned, as well as affected community leagues and business associations advising them of the Public Hearing date.

Register to Speak to Council or Submit Comments

Public Hearings are an important part of the engagement process for rezonings. Once the hearing agenda is posted, members of the public can register to speak at the City Council Public Hearing to share their views on the proposed rezoning directly with Council.

Written comments can also be submitted to City Council through the Office of the City Clerk. Edmontonians can also watch the Public Hearing online.

If the Application is Approved

Administration is seeking Council approval to sell the land to a housing provider for development. If the land sale and rezoning are approved, Administration will select a housing provider. The housing provider will be required to obtain development and building permits before 2026. Construction timelines are typically at the developer’s discretion.

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Share your thoughts

Tell Us What You Think About The Application

Please let us know what you like and what could be better about this application. What should Council know as they decide whether or not to approve the rezoning? Other people that visit this part of the site will be able to see your comments.

Please note you must register on Engaged Edmonton to provide feedback. Only your username will be displayed publicly, all other contact information is kept confidential. All comments go through an automated moderation process.

You may wish to review these Frequently Asked Questions on Surplus School Sites document, found on the side bar, prior to posting your comments. Please avoid providing your feedback in two different places, such as emailing the planner as well as posting on this site. It is not necessary to do both in order for feedback to be captured, and may delay response times.

If you are unable to provide feedback on this site, you may also provide feedback to the Project Planner directly via the contact information under the "who's listening" section of the page.

Respondent Discussion: BlueQuillSurplusSchoolSite

I live (own) two blocks from this site. Our neighborhood of Sweetgrass has a plethora of multi-home dwellings, primarily assisted in one form or another. We feel the neighborhood is sufficiently served with low income housing and this addition will exacerbate traffic, parking and random acts of vandalism in the area. The proposed height of the structure is higher than any other development in the area and is intrusive and disrupts the calming visual attributes of three story limits. If the City (Administration and Councillors) were serious about Justin Trudeau's "climate crisis", why wouldn't green alternatives be developed. Trees, shrubs, community garden plots and other environmental enhancements would contribute to the quality of life for existing residents. Of course, the "housing crisis", brought on by the inept Trudeau government, is another chance for the Administration and Council to virtue-signal another knee-jerk reaction to a problem. Much as they did with approving blanket rezoning, bribed by the Trudeau government for funding. A bribe this Mayor and Council have no conscience in accepting. Totally opposed to this application.