Emotions were running high Sunday afternoon with hundreds of Edmontonians taking to city hall to protest infill bylaws. Infill multiplexes have become ubiquitous in neighbourhoods across the city since a zoning bylaw came into effect two years ago. Amendments to the bylaw have allowed for developers to build eight-unit multiplexes on lots that formerly had single-family homes built on them. Residents have raised concerns about the amount of infill in the city, saying these multiplexes have put a strain on mature neighbourhoods. Neighbourhoods United organized Sunday’s rally, asking for changes to the bylaw to make infill more sustainable. “It’s poor planning at the core of it,” said the group’s co-founder Jaclyn Soroka. “And that’s what we’re here to do, is help the city understand that there is a better way to do infill.” City council approved zoning bylaw changes in the spring to reduce infill height limits which came into effect in August, but many say the changes don’t go far enough. “I think a lot of councilors are of the opinion that that was enough. And we’re telling them it’s not. There is more work to be done. There is more consultation with neighborhoods on how this can be done better,” said Soroka. Grow Together Edmonton organizer Jacob Dawang was also at the rally, but says infill addresses the demand for housing, especially in desired neighbourhoods that aren’t always affordable. “We’re trying to repopulate our neighbourhoods and bring them back to where they were built,” said Dawang. “People of all walks of life finally are able to call the neighbourhoods they love home and come back and repopulate our mature neighbourhoods.” While Dawang was speaking with reporters, protestors surrounded him, rebutting his claims. Ward papastew Coun. Michael Janz moved a motion to have a design check-in for infills. “It’s clear more work needs to be done in getting word out about how design is being improved, how construction of accountability is being improved in some areas and some of their other complaints,” said Janz. Protestors claim the value of their homes is decreasing with the surge of infill housing. City administration is working on a public report to evaluate market value impacts. The report will be presented to city council in the third quarter of 2027. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Miriam Valdes-Carletti
