Update: EAD submits zoning application to the city

I'm Jim Low, lead of Planning and Development for the Edmonton Arena District. After a great many months of work, we've submitted our zoning application to the City. This is an important milestone for the project and it represents a lot of work by our team and a whole host of urban planners, civil and transportation engineers, sports and entertainment experts, and other people we've enlisted to help make sure we get this right. It also reflects the extensive dialogue we've had in recent months with the City of Edmonton's Planning Department.

One of our goals has been to submit a zoning application that reflects the City's vision and the goals of its proposed Downtown Plan. Hopefully we've hit the mark but you can be sure we will continue to provide the City with whatever information it needs as our application makes its way through the City's review process.

It's probably important to explain that the zoning application provides the opportunity for a range of uses for the site, as well as the development regulations that will govern these uses. But not all of the uses listed will necessarily be built, as this is just a zoning application and not a specific development proposal.

But instead of getting too far into urban planning technicalities, let me tell you what we've sketched out so far. As we've said in the application:

"The purpose of this Zone is to provide an arena and entertainment zone to accommodate the development of a vibrant mixed-use district that will strengthen the Downtown Core as a regional destination point that provides for employment, residential, cultural, economic, sports and entertainment opportunities.

The district will consist of a multi-purpose sports and entertainment complex complemented by a variety of entertainment, retail, service, office, institutional and residential uses. The area will be characterized by a pedestrian-friendly street environment, innovative signage, iconic architecture and exceptional urban design to create a strong sense of place in the Downtown Core and an exciting new image for Edmonton."

We believe this project will add to all of the great things already happening downtown and can be exactly the kind of catalyst for revitalization that the City's proposed Downtown Plan talks about.

Stay tuned for an open house where you can learn more about the project and give us your feedback. This project is about Edmonton's future. We're going to need your input -- and support -- to make it happen.

In the meantime, if you have more questions on zoning and planning, I'll be doing a Q&A forum on Connect2Edmonton in the next short while.

Arena District Zone for Submission:

Arena District Zone for Submission.pdf

Downtown Arena District Zoning Map:

Downtown Arena District Zoning Map.pdf