EFCL , and ultimately City Council, needs feedback from Community Leagues on two of the most significant documents for Edmonton’s future – a new Municipal Development Plan (MDP) Bylaw 15100 ("The Way We Grow") and new Transportation System Bylaw 15101, which incorporates the Transportation Master Plan Report ("The Way We Move"). A Public Hearing was held, November 12 & 13, 2008, to allow for public input before City Council decided whether or not to approve the Bylaws.    EFCL members were among the 50 speakers and more than 400 people in attendance.      The Bylaws received first reading by City Council; however, due to the presentations, Council referred the Plans back to staff with a number of items for investigation or consultation.    The Public Hearing will resume on April 23, 2009 and continue until April 28^th if necessary.

The Land Use and Transportation Plans give direction to the growth of Edmonton in the next 30 years, and are to respond to key challenges outlined in both Plans:

· Edmonton’s current population of 750,000 is expected to grow by 400,000 people by 2040. To accommodate our expanding population, we cannot continue to develop our city as we have been in the past. Our growth is currently scattered across many developing neighbourhoods without the provision of full public services. The low density development form we share with other Canadian cities is financially, socially and environmentally unsustainable. A new plan for growth in Edmonton is needed

· The City currently has more than $32.6 billion of City owned infrastructure…To continue to build without acknowledging the long term financial impacts is contrary to the City’s goal for financial sustainability.

· Edmontonians are now making longer trips and driving more… This is contrary to the City’s goal of preserving and sustaining Edmonton’s environment.

· The economic vitality and the sustainability of the Capital Region depends on Edmonton and its neighbours functioning as an integrated whole…

· Globally, it’s been acknowledged that community design and access to transportation opportunities affect health…

· Edmontonians are calling for a holistic view of Edmonton, an approach to development that recognizes the interdependencies our development decisions have…

· The tendency of cities to eat up the world’s resources and habitat is unsustainable. Edmontonians know this and are demanding we act to address climate change and conserve and protect natural habitat in the city and the region.

In response to these challenges the Plans propose to move Edmonton to a denser urban form based on premium transit.   Land use planning and transportation planning are to be integrated at the municipal and regional levels.