Calgary Herald Letters for May 4

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Saying something over and over doesn’t make it true. 

As the public hearing for rezoning threatens to stretch into a third week, it’s getting harder to find any new information in what’s being presented. What’s more, a large bulk of what’s being repeated just isn’t true.

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Each presenter gets five minutes to make their case for or against. Outside of overt racism or references to beheadings, the mayor has been pretty lenient in letting people say their piece. I think it’s worth clearing up some of the misconceptions I’ve heard so far.

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Here’s the facts.

While suburbs flatten fragile ecosystems on the edges of our city, rezoning keeps homes within our built environment. Experts agree that rezoning is one of the greenest planning decisions we can make.

Despite being a provincial responsibility, the city spends millions on affordable housing. Rezoning helps make affordable housing more successful by adding missing middle supply. 

The Housing Affordability Task Force convened well before the Trudeau government’s Housing Accelerator Funding started.

Even if land values increase slightly (and this is questionable), four new homes on that land will each be cheaper than a single or duplex.

Based on city and independent estimates, rezoning will at most result in three in 100 parcels in any given community being converted to row houses in the next 10 years. This is neither a sea change nor nothing at all.

Adding supply to the market does increase rental vacancy rates, and this leads to lower rents. Just look at Austin, Texas, for a recent example. This in turn can reduce homelessness, and is why rezoning is supported by organizations such as the Drop-In Centre.

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Rezoning is one of many things we need to do to address the housing shortage. It is one of 98 actions listed in Calgary’s housing strategy.

Despite what some councillors have been claiming, this hearing will not end all public hearings. It also won’t end public hearings on land use.

And finally — and I can’t believe I have to say this — allowing individuals more freedom in what they build on their property is not a form of Marxism.

Many days ago — at the start of this marathon — administration gave a presentation on the case for rezoning. In that presentation, they address directly many of the false claims that have been made in the intervening hours. I suggest you give it a listen.

This hearing will continue for a while yet, and if you haven’t spoken you can still sign up until the end.

But whether you’re for or against, please stick to the facts.

Willem Klumpenhouwer is a co-founder of More Neighbours Calgary.

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