Ward 1 - Sonya Sharp

February 2025 newsletter

Hello, Ward 1!

Thank you to everyone who joined me at the end of January for Coffee with the Councillor! It was wonderful to connect with so many residents, hear your thoughts, and discuss the issues that matter most to you. Your feedback continues to guide the work being done at City Hall, and I am so grateful for the opportunity to engage with our community.

As always, I remain committed to representing your concerns and working toward practical solutions that benefit all Calgarians. If you have any questions or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to the Ward 1 Office.

News from City Council

Amendments to the South Shaganappi Communities Local Area Plan

At the Feb. 12, 2025, Infrastructure and Planning Committee meeting, Councillor Chabot brought forward several amendments on behalf of Councillor Sharp, who was unable to do so as she was the meeting Chair. These amendments focused on refining development guidelines in specific areas of Varsity to better reflect community concerns. The committee passed all amendments with a 4-3 vote. For more details on each amendment, visit South Shaganappi Communities Local Area Plan amendments. The South Shaganappi Communities Local Area Plan and Councillor Sharp's amendments still need to go to a Public Hearing on March 4, 2025, for final approval.

Calgary Plan delay

The approval of the Calgary Plan, which combines the Municipal Development Plan and the Calgary Transportation Plan, has been postponed until 2026. As Chair of the Infrastructure and Planning Committee, Councillor Sharp recognizes the importance of these plans in shaping our city’s future. However, she believes the document needs to be flexible, and with potential amendments, people need time to review it properly. There have been concerns that the process is being rushed, and she wants to ensure that residents and stakeholders have adequate opportunity to provide input.

Additionally, Councillor Sharp believes it makes sense for the Calgary Plan and the revised Land Use Bylaw to come forward in the same timeframe, as these two documents are closely tied together.

We encourage residents to stay engaged as this discussion evolves. Please reach out to the Ward 1 Office if you have any questions or concerns with the delay of the Calgary Plan.

Green Line update

On January 28, 2025, City Council voted to move forward with the Green Line LRT project, ensuring that billions in provincial and federal funding remain in Calgary. The first phase will begin construction this year, running from Shepard to Grand Central Station near the future Event Centre. While the alignment isn’t perfect, this balanced approach allows us to move forward responsibly while continuing to study the downtown connection.

The downtown connection remains a topic of discussion, and Council has committed to working with the province to explore the best path forward. This includes public consultation and further analysis to ensure we address concerns about noise, market value, sight lines, and overall community impact.

Some key considerations:

The decision before Council was to approve the route through the deep south and downtown or scrap the entire project, which would have resulted in the loss of billions in funding and at least $850 million in cancelled contracts.
Moving forward allows us to continue building critical infrastructure, maintain jobs, and ensure transit improvements for underserved communities.
The Green Line was initially approved in 2020, and this decision ensures that previous investments are not wasted.
Phase 1 is expected to serve up to 55,000 daily riders, including 18,000 new transit users, and 88% of Calgarians support the project, according to a recent survey.
While the province has indicated a preference for an elevated downtown alignment, further study will take place to address risks such as flooding, noise, and traffic impacts.
The North segment remains a priority, with multiple options still on the table, including extending the Green Line or Bus Rapid Transit (BRT). Securing additional funding will be key to expanding transit capacity in the North.

Councillor Sharp remain committed to ensuring this project is delivered in a way that maximizes value for taxpayers while providing the transit improvements Calgary needs.

Community updates

Road safety in Ward 1

We’ve been hearing from residents across Ward 1 about concerns related to road safety, especially near schools and busy intersections. The Mobility Department is responsible for assessing these areas and determining appropriate safety measures. To help address these concerns, Councillor Sharp and the Ward 1 Office meet with the department regularly to escalate any issues and advocate for solutions. Typically, traffic studies are conducted during peak school hours, and the data gathered helps guide recommendations for potential safety improvements.

If you notice areas in need of attention, such as crosswalks or pedestrian lights, you can submit a request directly to the City of Calgary, here: Request a new marked crosswalk or pedestrian light. The Mobility Department reviews these submissions and prioritizes locations based on traffic patterns and community feedback. Your submissions are key in raising awareness and prompting action in high-priority areas.

Additionally, for issues like speeding, unsafe turns, or other traffic violations, submitting a Traffic Service Request (TSR) directly to the Calgary Police Service can help bring more attention to the area and encourage enforcement. You can submit a TSR online, and the more submissions made, the more likely these issues will be addressed. You can submit an TSR here: Traffic service requests.

Councillor Sharp and the Ward 1 Office will continue to advocate for road safety improvements and keep you updated on any progress. Thank you for helping to make our streets safer for everyone.

Upcoming Noise Barrier construction in Ward 1

The City is moving forward with new noise barriers in two locations within Ward 1 to help reduce traffic noise for nearby residents. These barriers are part of the Noise Barrier Retrofit Program (NBRP), which provides relief in residential areas where traffic noise exceeds The City’s design noise level criteria.

Crowchild Trail NW (North side, west of Stoney Trail NW)

Affected residents were surveyed in early 2024, and the required two-thirds approval was met.
The project has been tendered, with planning and design currently underway.

Nose Hill Drive NW (West side, north of Scenic Acres Gate NW)

The City surveyed residents in late 2024 and received approval to proceed.
Planning and design will begin once the project is tendered.

Both locations are expected to be completed by the end of 2026. Affected residents will receive updates on construction impacts and scheduling as they become available.

About the Noise Barrier Retrofit Program

The NBRP aims to reduce the impact of traffic noise in residential areas next to major roads. Noise barriers are considered when noise levels exceed 60 decibels (dBA) on non-truck routes or 65 dBA on truck routes and are prioritized based on severity.

For more information on the program and The City’s Surface Transportation Noise Policy, visit calgary.ca/NoiseBarriers.

Updates to City Services

Customer Review Period - Property Tax Assessment

The Customer Review Period for property tax assessments is open until March 21, 2025. During this period, you can discuss and update your property information with the City of Calgary. If any changes affect your property’s assessment value, the City will make adjustments and send an updated notice. This is a free service outside of the formal Assessment Review Board (ARB) complaint process.

If you have questions or need to make changes, please contact the City of Calgary at 403-268-2888.

Councillor Sharp understands how challenging rising costs and inflationary pressures are on our community. She continues to work diligently to identify efficiencies and areas where savings can be found. Affordability is a top priority, and Councillor Sharp has consistently worked to reduce the financial burden on Calgarians. She has a voting record that reflects her commitment to supporting budgets and projects that Calgarians can realistically manage. To learn more about Councillor Sharp’s priorities and voting record, visit: Votes and motions.

Travel Safe student video contest

The City of Calgary’s Mobility Safety team is once again hosting the Travel Safe Student Video Contest, inviting students in Grades K-12 to create short videos promoting safe travel on city streets, sidewalks, and pathways. This contest provides a creative way for students to engage with traffic safety while encouraging conversations between youth, parents, and caregivers about responsible travel.

The contest deadline is April 30, 2025, and finalist videos will be celebrated at a public screening on May 14, 2025, at the Central Library.

For more details, visit Calgary.ca/StreetSafeKids.

Right Tree, Right Location workshops – register now!

Looking to plant a new tree in your yard? The Right Tree, Right Location workshops will help you choose the best tree for your space and teach you how to plant and care for it properly. These free 1.5-hour sessions include a Q&A with an Urban Forestry Technician to answer all your tree-related questions.

Workshops take place from March 4 to April 2, 2025, at various community locations across the city. Space is limited, and content is the same at each session, so attendees are asked to register for only one.

📍 Upcoming sessions:

For full details and to register, visit Tree care and education.

Categories: General, Newsletter