District Planning - Phase 3: Gather Input and Edit Draft Plans (Fall 2023)

Engagement has concluded

Engagement on the District Planning project has concluded. This page was used for the final phase (Phase 3) of a multi-year engagement process and is now closed. Please visit our project website for more information on the project and next steps.

About the Project

District Planning is about changing the way Edmonton plans and supports development and growth to move us closer to The City Plan’s vision for a more connected, prosperous, healthy and climate-resilient city of 2 million people.

Deliberate change is required. The District Planning project will support one of The City Plan’s transformative priorities of making Edmonton a Community of Communities where residents can meet most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk, roll or transit trip from their homes. The District Planning project is not about restricting movement, monitoring people or tracking an individual’s carbon emissions.

District Policy and Plans

The District Planning project is developing 2 new planning tools to guide how 15 districts (collections of neighbourhoods) will redevelop and change as Edmonton reaches its next population milestone of 1.25 million people:

  • District Policy: provides policies that apply across all districts and other planning directions like urban design, energy transition and climate adaptation.
  • 15 district plans: contain district-specific context, area-specific policies and maps showing how the citywide District Policy directions are applied in a particular district

District plans will guide the long-term physical change of Edmonton’s neighbourhoods. Your district plan will say where taller and denser buildings should go and where the City needs to invest to support growth.

Visit edmonton.ca/districtplans to check out the draft District Policy and draft district plans today.

Geographic Plans Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire

As part of drafting district plans, the project team has reviewed existing strategies and geographic plans to understand if they conflict with The City Plan or if they are still needed to guide development. Based on this review, and informed by feedback we received in previous phases of engagement, the project team is recommending geographic plans to keep, change or retire.

Future Work Priorities

District plans will continue to change as future planning work happens across Edmonton. The district plans today will set the foundation for planning and engagement work in the future. More planning direction will be required in order to achieve the phased targets in The City Plan.

Through public and internal engagement, the District Planning project is also identifying areas for future work the City should undertake following the project’s completion. Future work can include ideas such as incorporating climate adaptation and energy transition strategies into district plans or identifying more heritage and cultural places in a district

This list of prioritized future work opportunities will be presented to City Council in 2024.

How to Get Involved

In this phase of engagement, we want to know more about your thoughts on the revised draft district plans and changes to the List of Geographic Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire. Your input will be used to help the City finalize the draft district plans, list of geographic plans proposed to keep, change or repeal and identify areas for future work opportunities to follow after the district plan adoption (pending City Council approval).

Share your thoughts from October 23 until December 3 using the tools below. 


Learn more about the project

Find out more about the district planning project, the City planning process and more.


Find Your Geographic Plan - Map Tool

Use the map tool to find your local geographic plan, and tell us what you think about the proposed retirement or amendment (change) to the existing plans.


Surveys on District Planning 

Share with the City your feedback on:



Public Engagement Sessions 

Members of the public are invited to join staff from the District Planning project to learn more about the draft district plans, what it means for your neighbourhood and to share your thoughts on the project.

Online Sessions
Sign up now to participate in an online session:

  • Wednesday, October 25: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
  • Thursday, October 26: noon to 12:55 pm
  • Tuesday, November 7: 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm
  • Thursday, November 16: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Save the Date: In-Person Drop-In Sessions
Find an in-person drop-in engagement event happening near you, RSVP here to attend.

  • Monday, November 27: 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bellevue Community Hall (7308 112 Ave NW)
  • Tuesday, November 28: 5 to 8 p.m. at the West Jasper Place Community Hall (9620 152 St NW)
  • Wednesday, November 29: 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Inglewood School (11515 127 St NW)
  • Thursday, November 30: 5 to 8 p.m. at Queen Alexandra Community League Hall (10425 University Avenue)
  • Saturday, December 2: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall in the Heritage Room (1 Sir Winston Churchill Square)

Geographic Plans Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire Engagement Sessions

Attend a virtual engagement session about the changes made to the List of Geographic Plans Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire since 2022. These sessions offer affected communities and members of the public the opportunity to share feedback on their neighbourhood-specific plan. Sign up for a session now.


Questions (Q&A Tool) 

Ask a question to the project team using the Engaged Edmonton Q&A Tool below. Questions will be captured as part of engagement feedback.


Chat with a Planner 

Chat one-on-one with a District Planning project team member over the phone, in-person or via Google Meet about your feedback or questions related to the project. Schedule your session now.


Engagement on the District Planning project has concluded. This page was used for the final phase (Phase 3) of a multi-year engagement process and is now closed. Please visit our project website for more information on the project and next steps.

About the Project

District Planning is about changing the way Edmonton plans and supports development and growth to move us closer to The City Plan’s vision for a more connected, prosperous, healthy and climate-resilient city of 2 million people.

Deliberate change is required. The District Planning project will support one of The City Plan’s transformative priorities of making Edmonton a Community of Communities where residents can meet most of their daily needs within a 15-minute walk, roll or transit trip from their homes. The District Planning project is not about restricting movement, monitoring people or tracking an individual’s carbon emissions.

District Policy and Plans

The District Planning project is developing 2 new planning tools to guide how 15 districts (collections of neighbourhoods) will redevelop and change as Edmonton reaches its next population milestone of 1.25 million people:

  • District Policy: provides policies that apply across all districts and other planning directions like urban design, energy transition and climate adaptation.
  • 15 district plans: contain district-specific context, area-specific policies and maps showing how the citywide District Policy directions are applied in a particular district

District plans will guide the long-term physical change of Edmonton’s neighbourhoods. Your district plan will say where taller and denser buildings should go and where the City needs to invest to support growth.

Visit edmonton.ca/districtplans to check out the draft District Policy and draft district plans today.

Geographic Plans Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire

As part of drafting district plans, the project team has reviewed existing strategies and geographic plans to understand if they conflict with The City Plan or if they are still needed to guide development. Based on this review, and informed by feedback we received in previous phases of engagement, the project team is recommending geographic plans to keep, change or retire.

Future Work Priorities

District plans will continue to change as future planning work happens across Edmonton. The district plans today will set the foundation for planning and engagement work in the future. More planning direction will be required in order to achieve the phased targets in The City Plan.

Through public and internal engagement, the District Planning project is also identifying areas for future work the City should undertake following the project’s completion. Future work can include ideas such as incorporating climate adaptation and energy transition strategies into district plans or identifying more heritage and cultural places in a district

This list of prioritized future work opportunities will be presented to City Council in 2024.

How to Get Involved

In this phase of engagement, we want to know more about your thoughts on the revised draft district plans and changes to the List of Geographic Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire. Your input will be used to help the City finalize the draft district plans, list of geographic plans proposed to keep, change or repeal and identify areas for future work opportunities to follow after the district plan adoption (pending City Council approval).

Share your thoughts from October 23 until December 3 using the tools below. 


Learn more about the project

Find out more about the district planning project, the City planning process and more.


Find Your Geographic Plan - Map Tool

Use the map tool to find your local geographic plan, and tell us what you think about the proposed retirement or amendment (change) to the existing plans.


Surveys on District Planning 

Share with the City your feedback on:



Public Engagement Sessions 

Members of the public are invited to join staff from the District Planning project to learn more about the draft district plans, what it means for your neighbourhood and to share your thoughts on the project.

Online Sessions
Sign up now to participate in an online session:

  • Wednesday, October 25: 6:30 pm to 8:00 pm
  • Thursday, October 26: noon to 12:55 pm
  • Tuesday, November 7: 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm
  • Thursday, November 16: 7:00 pm to 8:30 pm

Save the Date: In-Person Drop-In Sessions
Find an in-person drop-in engagement event happening near you, RSVP here to attend.

  • Monday, November 27: 5 to 8 p.m. at the Bellevue Community Hall (7308 112 Ave NW)
  • Tuesday, November 28: 5 to 8 p.m. at the West Jasper Place Community Hall (9620 152 St NW)
  • Wednesday, November 29: 6 to 8:30 p.m. at Inglewood School (11515 127 St NW)
  • Thursday, November 30: 5 to 8 p.m. at Queen Alexandra Community League Hall (10425 University Avenue)
  • Saturday, December 2: 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at City Hall in the Heritage Room (1 Sir Winston Churchill Square)

Geographic Plans Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire Engagement Sessions

Attend a virtual engagement session about the changes made to the List of Geographic Plans Proposed to Keep, Change or Retire since 2022. These sessions offer affected communities and members of the public the opportunity to share feedback on their neighbourhood-specific plan. Sign up for a session now.


Questions (Q&A Tool) 

Ask a question to the project team using the Engaged Edmonton Q&A Tool below. Questions will be captured as part of engagement feedback.


Chat with a Planner 

Chat one-on-one with a District Planning project team member over the phone, in-person or via Google Meet about your feedback or questions related to the project. Schedule your session now.


Engagement has concluded

You can:

  • Ask a question directly to the District Planning project team.
  • Search and view community-submitted questions and official responses.
  • Type your question in the box below and click "Submit". 
  • Your query may be used in a Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) document that will address answers to common questions.
  • Answers are typically provided within 5 business days.

  • CBC News - "Edmonton outlines future development with new city district plans" I take exception to calling government regulation on movement within a city "conspiracy theories". This has happened elsewhere in the world. Response to Covid shows how easily it can happen, all in the name of the greater good. How can we be assured that "nothing will be put in place to do any of these things" in the future? I understand the 15 minute city concept and that no part of this concept is intended to restrict movement. But it could be used for this, which is where the 'fear' arises. When people are silenced and reporting is biased mistrust follows. My point is that movement could be restricted, using the results of 15-minute cities, and this is not a 'conspiracy', it is a legitimate concern.

    KDL asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your question! The purpose of the district planning project is to reduce the number of rules, regulations, and limitations on how people can use land and move through the city. Our goal is to make it easier for people to move through the city to access daily needs and services. 


    The Government of Alberta maintains the Municipal Government Act, which defines the legal authorities granted to the City of Edmonton for many things including city planning. The City of Edmonton does not have the legal authority to limit people’s movement between districts, and district plans do not provide the City with any additional policy tools that would enable us to do so. Furthermore, freedom of movement is guaranteed by Section 6 of the Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedoms.

  • In the long term, what could City Planners realistically expect out of a city already designed in the way of excessive space and expansion and with people having such a strong " car commuting" mindset. As in, how dense could we get? Building city central apartments won't help if people have no interest to buy and live in them. I live in Manchester, U.K. currently for Uni and have visited other major cities in Europe. Density does look very good and is very effective on a city and good for the environment. No question. Edmonton has too much space. Too much. But...... Is it even realistic with the way the Edmonton is layed out already with years of poor planning - especially the continuous outward expansion of the city by expanding the borders? Is the political will there to do it? Densification is not a 5 year possibility but will be over 50 years to see a noticeable difference . And there is loads of empty spaces and forgotten abandoned business land pockets, and excessive parking lots throughout the city that could be put to good use for redevelopment? We can approach this in an environment friendly and cost effective way instead of needing to expand Edmontons already big border.

    SnowyOwl1 asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your question! You are right to point out that changing how we use land is a long-term, gradual process. District plans will not cause significant change right away. They also do not identify specific sites where development should be prioritized or provide specific density targets, but they do provide more detailed policy guidance to help realize the vision of the City Plan.


    A key part of how district plans do this is by providing detailed policies and boundaries for the nodes and corridors network. Developing nodes and corridors into densely populated, mixed-use areas that are accessible by a wide range of mobility options, such as walking, rolling, transit and driving, will help Edmonton use land more efficiently in the future.


    Many European cities also had very car-centric mobility networks constructed in the post-war era. An attractive urban environment and a variety of mobility options in those cities are the result of deliberate policy decisions and sustained public investment to change these cities. Changes to become the city described in The City Plan and the draft district plans will require similar commitment and time in Edmonton.

  • I need to understand the relationship between the Transit Oriented Development Guidelines approved by City Council in Feb. 2012, the the proposed District Plans. Have there been, or is it expected that there will be any changes to the TOD Guidelines? How do the Guidelines interact with the proposed Nodes and Corridors in the District Plans?

    Marie Gordon asked 5 months ago

    Thank you for your question! The Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Guidelines have been reviewed as part of the District Planning project, and the project team is recommending to City Council that they be retired at the same time district plans are approved in May 2024.

    The TOD Guidelines influenced the designation of nodes and corridors in the City Plan, aligning with existing and future Light Rail Transit lines and technical studies that support transit-oriented development in Edmonton. These nodes and corridors are reflected in the district plans (Map 7). 

    The TOD guidance has been integrated into the draft District Policy, offering citywide guidance for district plans. The District Policy and the City Plan’s node and corridor direction reflects the TOD Guidelines by directing higher intensity development to locate within nodes and corridors with gradual transition to lower built forms outside and away from the nodes and corridors. 

    The District Policy also encourages higher density around mass transit stations, prioritizing walkability, active modes, pedestrian streetscaping, a mix of housing types and transit use. 

  • Hi. Quick question. Could you please let me know the 'classification' of Stony Plain Rd (between 124 St and 149St), 102 Ave (from 124 St to 142 St), 142 St (from 124 St to 149 St) and 107 Ave (from 124 St to 149 St). Are they arterials, primary corridors, collectors or are they classified some other way? Is there a link you can send me that describes the policies for each type of roadway? Thanks very much

    Rob Smyth asked 5 months ago

    Hello, thank you for your question! All roads in Edmonton have a classification such as arterial, collector or local road. Arterial road classifications are determined by the Transportation System Bylaw (Bylaw 15101). You can determine if a road is an arterial, collector or local road using maps.edmonton.ca - check under the “Base” folder in the legend to see these classifications.

    The City Plan identifies certain areas as Primary Corridors and Secondary Corridors. These are not road classifications. They are areas where redevelopment is expected to happen over time. The City Plan provides general descriptions of what these areas should look like, and district plans provide more detailed boundaries for these areas and policies to guide their development.

    As for the specific areas you mentioned, they have the following roadway classifications: 

    • Stony Plain Road (between 124 Street and 149 Street): Arterial Roadway. Also, within the Stony Plain Road Primary Corridor boundary.

    • 102 Avenue (from 124 Street to 142 Street): Arterial Roadway. Also, portions of 102 Avenue west of 132 Street fall within the Stony Plain Road Primary Corridor boundary.

    • 142 Street (from 124 Street to 149 Street): These streets do not intersect but all three are classified as Arterial Roadways. 142 and 149 Streets are within Secondary Corridors for much of their length, and within the Stony Plain Primary Corridor near Stony Plain Road. 

    • 107 Avenue (from 124 Street to 149 Street): Arterial Roadway. Also, within a Secondary Corridor.

    You can find the proposed boundaries of these corridors on Map 7 of the draft Central District Plan and the draft Jasper Place District Plan.

    You can find the draft policies for Primary and Secondary Corridors in section 2.5 of the Draft District Policy.

    You can find a list of all corridors here, and a list of all nodes here.

  • What criteria was used to determine the pedestrian priority areas?

    Dennis Mc asked 6 months ago

    Thank you for your question! Pedestrian priority areas, as shown on Map 9 of each district plan, were identified using the following criteria:

    • Only on public roads (not privately owned roads)

    • Can be both inside and outside nodes and corridors

    • Wherever there is “Commercial Frontage” (as identified on Map 6)

    • As identified in existing plans or planning studies (e.g. a plan policy calls for “‘pedestrian oriented streetscape”)

    • Where two such areas were close together and could be connected as part of a pedestrian network


    In addition to the areas shown on Map 9, the District Policy (3.1.2.1) calls for pedestrians to be prioritized around major destinations such as shopping malls, Mass Transit Stations, hospitals, post-secondary institutions and recreation centres.

  • The Proposed district planning has mixed up residential and business. This will probably work where we have high density of residential areas. This is going to fail and is going to impact our future generations big time. The area in Rabbit Hill District plan (close to airport) being changed to farmland once again is a huge mistake. This is going to drive away new business investments along with potential jobs. I strongly feel, COE planning is making same mistake that was done by not accommodating Amazon. All large business with significant potential which create lots of supporting jobs will be pushed away with this proposal. I hate to say but it appears to me this is not business friendly plan, and we must allow growth where business see best value not just for COE but for all surrounding communities.

    imahal asked 6 months ago

    Thank you for your question! The City Plan was approved by council in 2020 and it is the starting point for the district plans. The purpose of district plans is to provide more detailed planning direction for the City Plan. The City Plan identifies the Rabbit Hill area as a Future Growth Area. This does not mean that development will never be allowed there. As Edmonton grows and needs new land to be developed, the Rabbit Hill District will eventually develop. For now, the Rabbit Hill District is mostly agricultural land and growth is being directed to other parts of the city, including other nearby neighbourhoods in the southwest of the city. A large part of the Rabbit Hill District is next to the airport and this area is designated as Non-Residential Area. This land will be primarily for employment uses when it develops in the future. While the District Policy does allow more opportunity for a mix of housing and businesses in the Urban Mix area, the city will also have Commercial/Industrial Employment Areas and Institutional Employment Areas, which are areas preserved for just employment and services.

  • On District Context – Development Considerations Map 4, one of the listed considerations is "Water Network Capacity." In this context, is the consideration that capacity is too low (i.e. would need to be upgraded to allow for development) or too high (i.e. could accommodate new development with no upgrades and/or would require development to meet an acceptable flow standard)?

    DMB asked 6 months ago

    Thank you for your question! “Water Network Capacity” on the Development Considerations Map 4 indicates areas where water capacity may be too low to accommodate higher density development at this time. When the City receives an application for new development, City staff confirms with EPCOR whether the existing infrastructure can support the proposed development during either the Subdivision or Development Permit stage of the development process. If capacity upgrades are necessary for new development, the City enters into a Servicing Agreement with the developer, who is responsible for the upgrades. If a developer does not agree to upgrade the infrastructure, then a development permit is not issued or, alternatively, the subdivision endorsement/registration does not occur. Upgrades may involve road construction or other off-site construction activities.