Item 11 — New Uses Allowed on Former School and Community Facility Sites

Understanding what changed, why it happened, and what both sides say about it

What Happened

Bylaw 21P2024 added new subsections to the Land Use Bylaw that allow additional uses on parcels that previously housed or currently house community recreation facilities, schools, and places of worship in the R-CG district.

Specifically the bylaw inserted:

• Subsection 526(3) — new permitted uses on former school and community facility sites

• Subsection 527(3) — new discretionary uses on former school and community facility sites

• Subsection 527(4) — new discretionary uses on former school sites specifically

• Subsection 527(5) — new discretionary uses on existing place of worship sites

What Did the Old Rules Allow?

The Old Framework

Before Bylaw 21P2024 institutional sites in residential districts had limited flexibility for adaptive reuse. When a school closed or a community centre was no longer used for its original purpose the options for what could replace it were constrained by the residential zoning of the surrounding area.

The Problem This Created

Calgary has experienced school closures and changes in institutional land use as population patterns have shifted across the city. When those sites became available for redevelopment the existing rules did not provide clear pathways for uses that might serve the community well. This created situations where valuable community sites sat underutilised or were converted to pure residential development without consideration of their potential community value.

What Do the New Rules Allow?

New Permitted Uses on Former School and Community Facility Sites

Subsection 526(3) adds the following as permitted uses on parcels that have a building used or previously used as a Community Recreation Facility or School Authority School:

• Community Recreation Facility

• School Authority School

• School Authority Purpose Minor

These uses are automatically approved on those sites without requiring discretionary review.

New Discretionary Uses on Former School and Community Facility Sites

Subsection 527(3) adds the following as discretionary uses on parcels that have a building used or previously used as a Community Recreation Facility or School Authority School:

• Child Care Service

• Library

• Museum

• School Authority Purpose Major

• School Private

• Service Organization

New Discretionary Uses on Former School Sites Specifically

Subsection 527(4) adds the following as discretionary uses on parcels that have a building used or previously used as a School Authority School:

• Food Kiosk

• Indoor Recreation Facility

• Outdoor Recreation Area

• Park Maintenance Facility Large

• Park Maintenance Facility Small

New Discretionary Uses on Existing Place of Worship Sites

Subsection 527(5) adds the following as discretionary uses on parcels with an existing building used as a Place of Worship Large or Place of Worship Medium, provided any new development does not increase the assembly area:

• Place of Worship Large

• Place of Worship Medium

Why Did the City Make These Changes?

Adaptive Reuse of Valuable Community Assets

When a school or community centre closes it leaves behind a building and a site that often has significant value to the surrounding community. The new rules create clear pathways for those sites to be repurposed for uses that continue to serve the community rather than defaulting automatically to residential redevelopment.

Responding to Changing Community Needs

Community needs change over time. A neighbourhood that once needed a large elementary school may now need a child care centre, a library branch, or an indoor recreation facility. The new rules give communities and landowners more flexibility to match the use of institutional sites to current needs.

Reducing Regulatory Barriers to Community Services

Under the old rules establishing a child care service or a library in a former school building in a residential district could require a lengthy rezoning process. The new rules make those uses discretionary in appropriate locations, reducing the time and cost involved in establishing community services.

Supporting Places of Worship

The addition of discretionary uses for places of worship recognises that religious institutions in residential neighbourhoods often want to expand or adapt their facilities to serve growing congregations. The new rules provide a pathway for that while including a safeguard that prevents increases to the assembly area that could affect the surrounding neighbourhood.

What Are the Concerns About This Change?

Intensification of Institutional Sites

Some residents have raised concerns that expanding the permitted and discretionary uses on institutional sites could lead to significant intensification of those sites in ways that affect neighbouring properties:

• A former school site converted to an indoor recreation facility could generate significantly more traffic and activity than the original school

• A food kiosk or outdoor recreation area on a former school site could change the character of an otherwise quiet residential area

• The discretionary process provides some oversight but critics argue it may not be sufficient to address all neighbourhood impacts

Lack of Community Input on Permitted Uses

The addition of Community Recreation Facility, School Authority School, and School Authority Purpose Minor as permitted uses means those uses can proceed on former institutional sites without neighbour notification or discretionary review:

• Neighbours have no formal opportunity to comment before a decision is made

• The Development Authority has no discretion to refuse a compliant application

• Critics argue that changes of this scale on large institutional sites warrant at least some community consultation

The Place of Worship Provisions

The provisions relating to places of worship have attracted some concern:

• The safeguard preventing increases to assembly area relies on the interpretation of what constitutes an increase

• Critics argue that interpretation could be applied loosely

• Places of worship can generate significant traffic and parking demand

• Expanding their permitted activities in residential districts without robust safeguards could affect neighbouring properties

Uncertainty About Former Sites

The rules apply to parcels that have a building "used or previously used" as a school or community facility. The phrase "previously used" creates some uncertainty:

• How long ago does the previous use have to have been for the rules to still apply

• What if the building has been significantly altered or demolished

• Critics argue the language could be interpreted broadly in ways that were not fully anticipated

What Does This Mean in Practical Terms?

For Communities With Closed Schools

• Former school sites in R-CG have more flexibility for adaptive reuse

• Community uses like child care, libraries, and recreation facilities have a clear discretionary pathway

• Residents can participate in the discretionary process when those uses are proposed

For Communities With Active Institutional Sites

• Existing schools and community centres can more easily continue or expand their operations

• Places of worship have a discretionary pathway to expand their activities without a full rezoning

For Neighbours of Institutional Sites

• Permitted uses on those sites can proceed without your notification

• Discretionary uses trigger a notification and comment process

• Your ability to influence the outcome depends on whether the proposed use is permitted or discretionary

For the City

• Valuable community assets are less likely to sit underutilised after institutional uses end

• The regulatory pathway for community services in residential areas is clearer and faster

• The changes align with broader goals around complete communities and efficient use of existing infrastructure

Key Facts

• Sections added: Subsections 526(3), 527(3), 527(4), and 527(5) of Land Use Bylaw 1P2007

• What triggered the change: The need for clearer adaptive reuse pathways for former institutional sites in residential districts

• New permitted uses on former school and community facility sites: Community Recreation Facility, School Authority School, School Authority Purpose Minor

• New discretionary uses on former school and community facility sites: Child Care Service, Library, Museum, School Authority Purpose Major, School Private, Service Organization

• New discretionary uses on former school sites specifically: Food Kiosk, Indoor Recreation Facility, Outdoor Recreation Area, Park Maintenance Facility Large, Park Maintenance Facility Small

• New discretionary uses on place of worship sites: Place of Worship Large, Place of Worship Medium provided no increase to assembly area

• The City's argument for the change: Enabling adaptive reuse of valuable community assets, responding to changing community needs, and reducing regulatory barriers to community services

• Primary concern among critics: Intensification of institutional sites without adequate neighbourhood notification and input particularly for uses classified as permitted rather than discretionary

Read the full bylaw: calgary.ca

See the related proposal: [Link to Item 11 Proposal — insert once created]

Next: Item 12 — Deletion of the R-CGex Designation →