Frequently Asked Questions
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Who Makes the Decisions?
City Councillors do not have the authority to alter parking restrictions. Changes to how Calgary Parking Authority assesses and sets parking regulation do come through Council and require consensus from all Councillors. Calgary Parking Authority makes the finer data-driven decisions. For example they raise and lower parking rates based on usage in particularly dynamic areas like our downtown.
How can I have a say?
Residents can initiate parking studies which can potentially change parking regulations. You can initiate changes through the Calgary Parking Authority. The 311 system captures these requests. For example, if you feel parking restrictions are no longer required on your block, call 311 or submit a service request online. Select: Submit An Online Service Request at the bottom of this page.
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Who Makes the Decision
Development Permit applications are reviewed and decided by the Development Authority, which is part of City Administration. Councillor Atkinson and Ward offices do not make decisions on DP files; we are circulated applications for information only. This ensures that the review remains consistent, neutral, and based on policy and technical requirements.
During the review, Administration evaluates:
The Land Use Bylaw
Applicable planning policies
Technical considerations (e.g., transportation, parking, safety, drainage)
Circulation comments from City departments, external reviewers, and the Community Association
Public input from neighbours like yourself
Your comments are included in the file and form part of that review.
Where Your Input Matters
If you would like your concerns to be formally considered, the best method is to submit comments directly through DMAP using the “Share your comments” button. These comments go straight to the File Manager and become part of the official record.
You can view the full file here: developmentmap.calgary.ca
Where to Get Status Updates
You can track the status of the DP anytime using the City's Development Map: https://dmap.calgary.ca/
If you prefer phone updates, you can call the Planning Services Centre at 403-268-5311.
After a Decision is Made
When the Development Authority makes a decision:
The approval will be posted in the Public Notice section of Calgary.ca the following Thursday
This posting is considered the official notification
File Managers are not required to contact individuals directly
What Our Office Can Do
While the Ward 7 office cannot influence or intervene in the DP review, we can:
Help you understand the process
Ensure you know where and how to provide feedback
We rely on City Administration to conduct a thorough review that includes technical analysis, policy alignment, and all public comments submitted through DMAP. If you need help locating information or navigating the process, please feel free to reach out to our office anytime.
Appealing a Decision
If you disagree with the decision, you have 21 days from the Public Notice posting to file an appeal with the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB). More information is available here: https://www.calgary.ca/sdab
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We understand that proposed changes in a community can raise important questions and concerns. For land use amendments there is a very specific process set out by the City. City Administration, not Council, is responsible for:
reviewing the application,
public input,
evaluating it against policy such as the Riley Park LAP and the Municipal Development Plan, and
preparing a recommendation.
Council’s role, including Councillor Atkinson's, comes only at the end of this process at the Public Hearing of Council, where everyone has the same opportunity to speak or submit written comments. To maintain fairness, we can’t intervene in the review, cannot submit complaints, feedback, or objections on behalf of residents, cannot negotiate with applicants/developers or direct Administration on a file, and take a position before the public hearing, or submit concerns on behalf of residents. At the Public Hearing of Council, Councillor Atkinson will review the full presentation on the application and listen to all submissions from residents and stakeholders, whether they are speaking in support of or in opposition to the proposal, and will make his decision at that time, based on the evidence and input presented.
Where Your Input Matters Most
The best way to make sure your concerns are part of the official record is to submit them directly through the City’s established channels:
DMAP File Page. You can submit comments directly to the file manager through this page.
Applicant-led engagement: Once the applicant shares their engagement plans, your participation in providing feedback to them directly is encouraged. Clear, detailed feedback helps them work to adjust their plans for the community context which is widely valued.
Public Hearing of Council: When the file is ready to come to Council, there will be a formal public hearing. The date will be posted to the DMAP once it is scheduled, we encourage you to sign up to speak or submit written comments if you wish.
Our office’s position is rooted in our commitment to allowing the public hearing process to function as intended, with a fair opportunity for all interested parties—the public and the applicant—to be heard by all voting members of Council. We recognize the importance of lived experience, safety considerations, and neighbourhood‑level impacts; these perspectives are essential to informed decision‑making. The public hearing is the venue specifically designed to ensure that all of these perspectives are received transparently, on the record, and with equal opportunity for every party to present their views to all decision‑makers on the file. This ensures that every member of Council receives the same information in the same way.
While we cannot participate in the application itself, we can help you understand the process and timelines, and ensure you know how and when to make your views part of the official record. Importantly, we trust City Administration to do their work thoroughly and objectively, assessing policy alignment, safety and technical considerations, and all public input, including yours.
Please feel free to reach out to our office if you have questions about the process or need help finding the right information. We’re here to support you in navigating it, even though we can’t participate directly in the application itself.
If you still have questions, please contact our office. For service requests, please include your SR# provided to you from 311. If you don’t know what an SR# is, please refer to our page Getting Help in Ward 7.