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passed first reading

City council gives initial approval to zoning bylaw amendment to change parking requirements for non-market housing

Sep 16, 2026 | 2:15 PM

Red Deer city council passed first reading on a zoning bylaw amendment allowing the development authority to change parking requirements by up to 70 per cent for non-market housing developments and temporary care facilities.

The motion, which was recommended by administration, was passed by an 8-1 vote, with councillor Dianne Wyntjes opposed.

At the January 27 regular city council meeting, council passed a motion directing administration to bring forward a report that explores and provides options to grant the development authority discretion to vary parking requirements by up to 70 per cent for subsidized housing developments and temporary care facilities.

At the time, council identified a need for subsidized housing in Red Deer and identified parking as a significant barrier to the development of subsidized housing.

As a result, administration brought four options to council on Tuesday.

Administration said it developed the options to address the motion’s direct requests while also exploring ways to reduce the time and process requirements for subsidized housing developments with reduced parking needs.

Councillor Chad Krahn originally proposed the third option during the meeting, which would have set a different parking standard for qualifying non-market housing instead of varying from the standard rate.

However, after the motion was defeated, Krahn put forward the second option, and it passed. The second option, amends the bylaw for parking variances based on demonstrated reduced parking demand, to establish criteria to guide the development authority in approving parking variances up to 70 per cent.