Accommodating_growth_one

ACCOMMODATING GROWTH 2007-2026 

Coordinating Municipal Capital Investment 

monitoring growth and change series

accommodating growth 2007 – 2026 

monitoring growth and change series 

PUBLISHING INFORMATION 

TITLE: 

AUTHOR: 

Accommodating Growth 2007-2026: Coordinating Municipal Capital Investment 

Land Use Planning & Policy 

Planning, Development & Assessment 

STATUS: FINAL - JUNE 2007 

PRINTING DATE: 

ADDITIONAL COPIES: 

2007 JUNE 

The City of Calgary 

Records & Information Management (RIM) 

P.O. Box 2100, STN “M”, 8115 

Calgary, Alberta T2P 2M5 

PHONE: Phone: (403) 268-3450 or Call 3-1-1 

FAX: (403) 268-4615 

WEB: 

www.calgary.ca/planning/landuse (then click Publications) 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: 

Business Unit Contact Finance Lead 

Calgary Fire Gwen Nieuwdorp Kelly Temchuck 

Calgary Police Service Al Van Tongeran Elrose Klause 

Calgary Public Library Paul Lane Peggy Stevenson 

Calgary Transit Pat Churchman Lawrence Wu 

Corporate Properties & Buildings Nick Parkinson Rupe Minhas 

EMS Ed Moffat Sheila MacFayden 

Fleet 

Brian Friesen 

Parks Kieth Parker Jo Sahi 

Recreation Rob Mcauley Donna Chrisenson 

Roads John Bolger Tim Johnson 

Waste & Recycling Services Melanie Cooke Lorne Hall 

Water Resources (Potable Water) Susan Young Michel Belzile 

Water Resources / Water Services (Sanitary) Susan Young Michel Belzile 

Water Resources / Water Services (Stormwater) Susan Young Michel Belzile 

Land Use Planning & Policy 

Diane Hooper 

Diane Pearson 

Jim Francisco 

Darrell Burgess 

Andrea Buttazzoni 

Chunlee Jackson 

Marc Hummel 

Deb Abbenbrok 

Finance 

Karen Kwong 

The City of Calgary provides this information in good faith but it provides no warranty, nor accepts any liability from any incorrect, incomplete or misleading information or its improper 

use. No part of this material may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electrical or mechanical, including photocopying, or transmitting or by an information storage 

or retrieval system, without the express written permission and acknowledgement of The City of Calgary. 

© The City of Calgary, 2007 

the city of calgary



Monitoring growth and 

change series 

Monitoring Growth and 

Change Series 

Calgary’s growth-related challenges are significant, but so are 

the benefits of orderly, well-managed, and equitably-financed 

growth. The City of Calgary is responsible for managing 

and co-ordinating the planning and investment needed to 

accommodate growth and change. 

The premise of the Monitoring Growth and Change series is that 

better growth related decisions can be derived from credible 

information and consistent analysis. Corporate Economics 

& Geodemographics has developed a research program 

to analyse growth expectations and co-ordinate plans for 

infrastructure and services to support that growth. The result 

is an annually updated series of documents collectively titled, 

Monitoring Growth & Change. This series includes: Suburban 

Residential Growth: Information Update; Industrial Area Growth: 

Information Update; and Accommodating Growth: Co-ordinating 

Municipal Capital Investment. The Established Areas: Growth & 

Change document is the newest addition to the series. 

The Monitoring Growth and Change series is intended to 

be used by both the Administration and City Council to 

better co-ordinate municipal capital investment priorities 

by identifying the dynamics affecting established and new 

suburban areas, in order to make better informed decisions 

on how to effectively accommodate short and long-term 

growth. 

The Monitoring Growth & Change series provides City 

Council, the administration, private developers and the 

public with the base information they need to effectively plan 

for growth and change. The four documents share some 

common information, but each has a specialised focus. 

CREDIBLE information 

CONSISTENT analysis 

CO-ORDINATED decision-making 

Report title 

Established Areas: Growth & 

Change 

Suburban Residential Growth Industrial Area Growth Accommodating Growth: 

Co-ordinating Municipal 

Capital Investment 

Release APRIL MAY JUNE JULY 

Focus 

Content 

Key info 

Established areas (provides 

a better understanding of 

how they are growing and 

changing) 

• Historical trend information 

including data on population, 

age cohorts, dwelling units, 

residential development 

activity, occupancy rates, 

vacancy rates and dwelling 

unit density 

• Census data presented by 

urban structure profile and 

individual community 

• Summaries and profiles of 

growth and change in the 

established areas based on 

urban structure 

• Suburban residential 

development (last five years 

and next five years) 

• City approach to managing 

residential land supply 

• Suburban residential 

land inventory including: 

planning approval status, 

and infrastructure servicing 

status and plans for 

water, wastewater, and 

transportation 

• Historical suburban 

residential development 

activity 

• Methodology for growth 

forecast distributions 

• five-year population and 

housing projections by city 

sector 

• existing land supply and 

expected future demand 

Industrial land supply & 

growth expectations (last five 

years and next five years) 


industrial land supply 

• Industrial land inventory 

including: planning approval 

status, and infrastructure 

servicing status and plans 

for water, wastewater, and 

transportation 

• Current industrial 

development activity 

• Recommendations for 

industrial policy studies and 

research 

• five-year industrial 

employment projections by 

industrial area 

• existing land supply and 

expected future demand 

The City’s capital budget plans 

(10 years and beyond where 

possible) and long-term 

projections 


long-term residential land 

supply 

• Overview of infrastructure 

financing required for 

growth included in The 

City’s capital budget plan 

• Growth-related capital 

projects by business unit and 

location 

• Operational framework 

for The City’s growth 

management processes 

• 5, 10, and 15-year 

population projections 

• growth-related capital 

projects by Business Unit 

and location 

the city of calgary



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executive summary 

Executive Summary 

Accommodating Growth is a Council-mandated document. This 

document is intended to be used by Administration, Council 

and the development industry to better coordinate municipal 

capital investment priorities in new suburban growth areas, 

and to make better informed decisions on sustainable longterm 

residential growth. 

Accommodating Growth is not a policy document, but is 

intended to inform decision making. 

Sustainable growth, informed by a Triple Bottom Line 

perspective, is an important focus for the City of Calgary. 

Coordinating the infrastructure and service needs related to 

growth is part of the sustainability equation. 

The information contained in Accommodating Growth is 

used to provide a greater level of assurance that the City has 

the ability to deliver the necessary infrastructure and services 

to new areas at key Council decision-making points in the 

land use planning and implementation cycle. 

• Business Units across the Corporation are responding 

to growth pressures and adjusting their capital budgets 

accordingly and where approved by Council. 

• Over the next decade (2007-2016), business units (both 

self and tax supported) have identified growth related 

capital projects worth 7.37 billion that are necessary 

to the address growth needs of Calgary. Of this total 

4.75 billion are unfunded. During the same time period 

(2007-2016) business units also identified, within the 

Capital Budget, the need for 4.43 billion to address 

maintenance, upgrade and service projects. 

• The Operational Framework was revised, in 

collaboration with UDI-Calgary, to better reflect 

existing administrative processes. A sub-committee of 

the Infrastructure Coordinating Committee will now be 

responsible for making recommendations and proposing 

solutions on Outline Plan and Land Use Applications 

where the required municipal infrastructure has not 

been identified in the Capital Budget Plan. 

Accommodating Growth maps the growth related capital 

projects in conjunction with the long range population 

growth forecasts. This information is presented by Business 

Unit and by geographic sector of the city. 

The following is a summary of some of the key findings 

contained in Accommodating Growth 2007-2026: 

• The City of Calgary has experienced significant 

population growth over the past ten years, resulting in a 

high demand for residential development. 

• The City of Calgary recorded the highest year to year 

(2005-2006) population gain (35,681) with record levels 

of in-migration (25,794) and natural increase (9,887). 

• By 2011 the population of the City of Calgary is forecast 

to be approximately 1.1 million people. In 20 years 

(2026) the population is forecast to rise by 28% to 

almost 1.4 million people. 

• The total land absorption forecast over the next 

20 years (2007-2026) is anticipated to be 90 square 

kilometers. (Approximately 159,000 residential units.) 

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table of contents 

t 

Table of Contents 

Publishing Information.........................................................................................................................................................................4 

Monitoring Growth and Change Series .......................................................................................................................................... i 

Executive Summary............................................................................................................................................................................. iii 

List of Tables........................................................................................................................................................................................ vii 

List of Maps......................................................................................................................................................................................... viii 

Introduction ..........................................................................................................................................................................................1 

Part 1 – Forecasting Population Growth & Demand for Land.................................................................................................3 

Forecasting Residential Growth in the New Suburban Communities ..................................................................................................6 

Part 2 – Municipal Capital Projects by Business Unit .............................................................................................................. 11 

Corporate Properties & Buildings ..............................................................................................................................................................................12 

Emergency Medical Services..........................................................................................................................................................................................17 

Calgary Fire...............................................................................................................................................................................................................................21 

Fleet Services.......................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 26 

Calgary Public Library ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 28 

Parks............................................................................................................................................................................................................................................. 32 

Calgary Police Service....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 36 

Recreation.................................................................................................................................................................................................................................40 

Roads ........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................... 45 

Calgary Transit........................................................................................................................................................................................................................51 

Waste & Recycling Services........................................................................................................................................................................................... 57 

Water Resources / Water Services (Potable Water)....................................................................................................................................60 

Water Resources / Water Services (Sanitary)...................................................................................................................................................64 

Water Resources / Water Services (Stormwater)..........................................................................................................................................68 

the city of calgary



Part 3 – Municipal Capital Projects by City Sector...................................................................................................................73 

Northwest Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s).................................................................................74 

North Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s) ...........................................................................................76 

Northeast Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s)................................................................................. 78 

East Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s) ...............................................................................................80 

Southeast Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s).................................................................................. 82 

South Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s) ...........................................................................................84 

West Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s) ............................................................................................ 86 

Central Sector Growth-Related Capital Projects 2007 - 2016 ($000’s)........................................................................................88 

Part 4 – Operational Framework...................................................................................................................................................91 

1. Select New Planning Areas......................................................................................................................................................................................91 

2. Policy Plan Process ....................................................................................................................................................................................................... 92 

3. Input On Outline Plan And Land Use Amendment Applications.................................................................................................. 93 

Appendices...........................................................................................................................................................................................95 

Appendix 1 – Background to Accommodating Growth............................................................................................................................. 96 

Appendix 2 – The Investment In Growth............................................................................................................................................................ 99 

Appendix 3 – Forecasting Growth - Assumptions and Background.................................................................................................104 

Appendix 4 – Roles and Responsibilities - Operational Framework.................................................................................................108 

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table of contents 

t 

List of Tables 

Table 2.1: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Corporate Properties & Buildings ($000’s)................................................14 

Table 2.2: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Emergency Medical Services ($000’s)...........................................................18 

Table 2.3: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Fire ($000’s)............................................................................................... 24 

Table 2.4: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Fleet ($000’s) ............................................................................................................... 27 

Table 2.5: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Public Library ($000’s) ........................................................................30 

Table 2.6: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Parks ($000’s)..............................................................................................................34 

Table 2.7: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Police Service ($000’s).........................................................................38 

Table 2.8: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Recreation ($000’s) ................................................................................................. 42 

Table 2.9: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Roads ($000’s)............................................................................................................. 47 

Table 2.10: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Transit ($000’s)......................................................................................54 

Table 2.11: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Waste & Recycling Services ($000’s).......................................................... 58 

Table 2.12: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Water Resources/Water Services (Potable Water) ($000’s)......61 

Table 2.13: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Water Resources/Water Services (Sanitary) ($000’s).................... 66 

Table 2.14: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Water Resources/Water Services (Stormwater) ($000’s)........... 70 

Table 3.1: Northwest Sector........................................................................................................................................................................................74 

Table 3.2: North Sector..................................................................................................................................................................................................76 

Table 3.3: Northeast Sector........................................................................................................................................................................................ 78 

Table 3.4: East Sector ......................................................................................................................................................................................................80 

Table 3.5: Southeast Sector......................................................................................................................................................................................... 82 

Table 3.6: South Sector..................................................................................................................................................................................................84 

Table 3.7: West Sector.................................................................................................................................................................................................... 86 

Table 3.8: Central Sector...............................................................................................................................................................................................88 

Appendix Table 2.1: 2006 Standard Development Agreement Assessment Levies and Fees........................................101 

Appendix Table 2.2: 2007 - 2016 Growth Related Capital Projects (in $000’s).....................................................................102 

Appendix Table 2.3: 2007 - 2016 Maintenance, Upgrade and Service Projects (in $000’s)............................................103 

Appendix Table 3.1: 2007 - 2011 Projected Growth.................................................................................................................................106 

Appendix Table 3.2: 2012 - 2016 Projected Growth.................................................................................................................................106 

Appendix Table 3.3: 2017 - 2021 Projected Growth ................................................................................................................................106 

Appendix Table 3.4: 2022 - 2026 Projected Growth................................................................................................................................107 

Appendix Table 3.5: Growth Period (Growth to new suburban areas) ......................................................................................107 

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List of Maps 

Map 1.1: New Suburban and Established Communities Forecasted Residential Growth (2007 - 2026)......................5 

Map 1.2: New Suburban Forecasted Residential Growth (2007-2021): 15 Year Growth Map...........................................7 

Map 1.3: Unsubdivided Planned Residential Land Supply (2007)...........................................................................................................9 

Map 2.1: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Corporate Properties & Buildings.......................................................................15 

Map 2.2: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Emergency Medical Services ..................................................................................19 

Map 2.3: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Fire......................................................................................................................25 

Map 2.4: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Public Library.................................................................................................31 

Map 2.5: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Parks..................................................................................................................................... 35 

Map 2.6: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Police Service ............................................................................................... 39 

Map 2.7: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Recreation..........................................................................................................................43 

Map 2.8: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Roads ................................................................................................................................... 49 

Map 2.9: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Calgary Transit................................................................................................................ 55 

Map 2.10: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Waste & Recycling Services................................................................................. 59 

Map 2.11: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Water Resources/Water Services (Potable Water)............................. 63 

Map 2.12: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Water Resources/Water Services (Sanitary) ........................................... 67 

Map 2.13: Growth-Related Capital Projects – Water Resources/Water Services (Stormwater)....................................71 

Map 3.1: Northwest Sector ......................................................................................................................................................................................... 75 

Map 3.2: North Sector ...................................................................................................................................................................................................77 

Map 3.3: Northeast Sector.......................................................................................................................................................................................... 79 

Map 3.4: East Sector..........................................................................................................................................................................................................81 

Map 3.5: Southeast Sector........................................................................................................................................................................................... 83 

Map 3.6: South Sector .................................................................................................................................................................................................... 85 

Map 3.7: West Sector...................................................................................................................................................................................................... 87 

Map 3.8: Central Sector................................................................................................................................................................................................. 89 

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introduction 

i 

Introduction 

Accommodating Growth: Coordinating Municipal Capital 

Investment is a Council mandated document and its framework 

and approach were approved by City Council in July 2002. 

The City’s strategy for managing growth is not a single 

solution or a single document. Rather, it is a interrelationship 

of administrative tools and Council approved policies that 

enable The City to respond to the needs of a growing 

population in a coordinated, organized, and responsible way. 

For more information and background to Accommodating 

Growth and the policies that address growth management 

please refer to Appendix 1 - Background to Accommodating 

Growth. Background to the Capital Budget and budget 

summary tables are found in Appendix 2 - The Investment 

in Growth. 

Accommodating Growth is not a policy document but a tool 

to help make better informed decisions on coordinating 

long‐term growth. The specific purpose is to: 

• To provide credible, reliable and up-to-date information 

on growth related municipal capital projects, out 10 

years, and beyond, where possible; 

• To map these projects by Business Unit and by 

geographic sector of the city in the context of 

forecasted growth; 

• To provide a tool for Business Units to track and 

review the timing of growth related municipal capital 

investments and to coordinate the alignment of these 

investments, in relation to future growth projections 

and ongoing development; 

• To provide a mechanism to inform the following 

three key decision-making points in the planning and 

implementation cycle: 

• decision on work programs identifying new planning 

areas; 

• preparation and decision on new policy plans; and 

• decision on land use applications. 

• To provide operational guidelines & protocols to: 

• ensure a coordinated approach to aligning municipal 

capital projects at the time of Outline Plan/Land 

Use application; and 

• ensure a coordinated and consistent review of 

requests from landowners to extend municipal 

infrastructure and services into new areas, negotiate 

financial arrangements where appropriate, and 

make recommendations on these requests to City 

Council. 

the city of calgary



 

the city of calgary

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