EFCL Planning

Site Search

About the Planning Committee

EFCL fosters healthy neighborhoods by providing advice and support to community leagues, liaises with the City and Leagues to give input on urban planning issues, and EFCL speaks on behalf of community leagues on urban planning issues.

EFCL focuses on issues which have city-wide implications for community leagues, issues that affect a majority of community leagues, or issues that will affect future community leagues where there is none now to represent their long term interests. (See the EFCL Policy on Government Affairs).

Planning matters to every league and, above, the planning committee meets monthly to recommend smart growth and policies to council

EFCL’s Planning and Development Committee reviews city-wide urban planning issues and makes recommendations to the Board and Membership. (See P&D Terms of Reference, and the Principles). The issues in the recent past have included a policy on residential light efficiency, distribution of group homes in neighbourhoods, affordable housing policy, Living Local – recreation facility planning, Transit-Oriented Development Framework, zoning bylaws to improve transitions between small and large built forms, and Family-Friendly Multi-unit Housing.

The Community Planning Advisor provides advice and support to individual community leagues dealing with urban planning issues in their own neighbourhood. This frequently involves assisting the Community League in reviewing development proposals and preparing for Public Hearing and Subdivision Appeal Board Hearings. Time permitting the Advisor also has the mandate to review new neighbourhood plans on behalf of future community leagues.

LIVING LOCAL! EFCL is dedicated to promoting sustainable living and doing things close to home. Read more about the living local project ...

EFCL Planning Committee Members

Bev Zubot, EFCL Planning Advisor

Shafeek Ali, District L

Ron Favell, District B

Lori Jeffrey-Heaney, District J

Elaine Solez, District I

Deepali Medhekar, District K

Cora Shaw, District G

Barry Davis, District H

Alf White, District F

Edo Nyland Planning Academy Scholarship

In memory of our past board member Edo Nyland, the EFCL Board has voted to approve $2000 worth of scholarships to pay half of the tuition for community league members to become certified through the Planning Academy workshops.

Edo passed away this last summer and in his memory we contributed to the University of Alberta’s Edo Nyland scholarship fund and could think of no better way to honor his commitment to planning in our communities by helping others learn about the planning process. Edo was instrumental in increasing awareness and contributing to good decisions in our city.

Follow his shining example and take advantage of this opportunity to learn how to be a more effective voice for your community.

Urban Design
October 15, 2011

Land Use Planning: The Big Picture
October 19, 2011

Transit Oriented Development
November 2, 2011

Come Plan with Us: Using Your Voice
November 7 & 8, 2011

Getting a Grip on Land Use Planning
November 12, 2011

For more information on the courses go to: www.edmonton.ca/planningacademy

After obtaining your certificate by taking all of the required courses, EFCL will reimburse community league members from the Academy’s list of graduates ($70 value) . Valid current membership card required.

Position Papers

The Planning Committe entered extensive discussions and analyses to arrive at the following positions:

Draft Family Friendly multi-unit Housing Guidelines reviewed at the EFCL September 25, 2010 Workshop 100925 draft Guidelines.doc
Light Efficiency Policy 100408 EFCL Lighting Policy.pdf
Affordable Housing Position 100211 EFCL Affordable Housing Position Statement.pdf
Top of the Bank Development Policy 090910 EFCL TOB policy position.pdf
Infill Guidelines Recommendations 090416 EFCL letter re Infill Guidelines.pdf

All documents involved in the preparation of these positions and recommendations are in our Civic Affairs Documents. Also viewable online in EFCL Advocacy Policies

Civic Affairs Documents

Civic Affairs Documents Visit our Planning Matters section of the document library to view documents that are strictly related to Civics Affairs, Planning & Development, & Transportation. These documents are for the most part linked through our Planning Matters - News Stream.

For unrestricted document access to all topics visit our Resource library.

Community Consultation

Community Consultation Guide Community Consultation in the Planning and Development Process aims to help you weather the often-complex nature of consultation in the planning process. This process can be daunting and even downright stormy for community members, developers and other planning stakeholders, but does not need to be. Usually, there are great benefits for the community and the project when everyone participates in a cooperative manner.

Latest Planning News

CELL TOWERS: The New Landmark for Every Neighbourhood?

In response to numerous complaints about cell tower developments, several city councillors made an inquiry about potential changes to the community consultation process and the criteria used to decide whether or not to support a tower proposal.

Higher Density for Transit Center Areas

The City has prepared a new draft of the TOD Guidelines. It is available for review on the city website, at www.edmonton.ca/tod. The major change is the application of the TOD Guidelines to transit centres.

Given the auto-oriented nature of transit centres, do you think the LRT station Guidelines should apply to transit centres? Please contact Bev.Zubot@efcl.org with your thoughts to help EFCL reflect your ideas during consultations.

Executive Committee of Council is scheduled to consider the TOD Guidelines on February 8, 2012.

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED)

Crime Prevention Through Environmental Design (CPTED) is a widely accepted set of crime prevention principles. The CPTED premise is that the proper design and effective use of the physical environment can reduce the perception of fear and incidence of crime. This leads to an improvement in the quality of life

Children and Keepers: All neighbourhoods should have them

Want more children and long-term residents in your neighbourhood? The EFCL has a tool for you to use when advocating for more quality mulit-family housing. See EFCL's Recommendations for Child/Family-Friendly Multi-Unit Housing.

Sneaking in Behind Budget Hype: Reduced Parking Requirements for Seniors Housing

Reduced Parking Requirements for Seniors Housing and other supportive housing projects is being considered by the City.