Leduc invites feedback for land use bylaw renewal

LEDUC -- The initial draft for the City of Leduc's land use bylaw renewal project has entered its public engagement phase.

Once adopted by Council, the bylaw will serve as a regulatory tool for guiding how land and buildings are developed within the municipality. As part of the process, residents are invited to share their thoughts on the proposed changes as part of an online survey open on the City of Leduc's website until May 3. Leduc Mayor Lars Hansen says the changes outlined in the first draft reflect the needs of the growing city.

"The City of Leduc is a growing city, and there are all sorts of new pressures to meet diverse housing needs," said Hansen. "That's partly what this is about -- we're looking to hear from residents, businesses, and industry, as to what they want to see in our updated land use bylaw."

Hansen says the amended land use bylaw will become one of the main tools for moving the city's Municipal Development Plan forward. The renewal process began last year with research and analysis, followed by the crafting of a first draft in late 2025. The City is currently in the fourth phase of their plans, which involves using feedback from the public to refine the current draft. Mayor Hansen talks about what he's heard from the public thus far. 

"When it comes to established neighbourhoods, what we've heard is that residents are looking for diverse housing and a flexible land use bylaw, but they also really want to protect that unique neighbourhood look and feel," said Hansen. "What we heard from industry is that our current bylaw is complex and outdated, and don't really meet the needs of the day. What they're looking for is something a little more flexible and simplified." 

In the draft land use bylaw, four residential districts have been established to guide and support future housing growth, along with three commercial districts and three industrial districts. Jessica Lui -- Senior Planner with the City of Leduc -- says that some of the main changes outlined in the updated bylaw relate to neighbourhood context, in terms of differentiating between already established neighbourhoods and the city's older, more character areas.

"So, in the established neighbourhoods, there's going to be a greater focus on building size, scale, setbacks, parking, and landscaping," said Lui. "We're really making sure that any new development that happens, fits within the existing look and feel of the area."

Instead of lot-based zoning, the renewed LUB focuses on neighbourhood-scale zoning to enable a greater mix of building types, while within the districts, regulations for built form and use are tied to the street type and their context. Lui notes that permitted and discretionary uses are still identified in each district; however, more uses are allowed in each district where they meet the form and street type requirements.

For those who wish to share their input or learn more about the land use bylaw renewal project, you can head to www.leduc.ca/LUB.