The Harriet on Riley Park

1200 Block of 5 Ave NW

Redesignation Application for a Direct Control Bylaw  based on M-H2

Introduction

The Harriet on Riley Park is a new development proposed within the community of Hillhurst located immediately south of Riley Park on 5th Avenue NW next to the Ezra building.

The development is named after Harriet Waterhouse Riley, the wife of Ezra Riley, a politician and rancher, who donated the land that is now Riley Park to the City of Calgary in 1910. 

The development of the parcel seeks to align the zoning and design with the Riley Communities Local Area Plan (LAP) through a redesignation application and development permit, applying the policies and targets within the document and in consultation with the Hillhurst Sunnyside Community Association (HSCA), neighbours, local stakeholders, and City of Calgary administration staff.

About the Site:

The parcel of eight lots comprises a full city block that is bordered to the North by a lane and Riley Park and is addressed to the South on 5th Avenue NW, situated between 11A St NW and 11 St NW, in the community of Hillhurst. The parcel currently contains 5 single-family homes, one duplex, and an apartment building (on the East end).

The surrounding context is the multi-family two-tower Ezra development to the West, and single-family homes and the Victoria on 5th building to the East. Across 5th Avenue are a vacant lot slated for redevelopment into multi-family small-scale building and single family homes.

The parcel is located 320 meters from the Sunnyside CTrain station, within the Transit Oriented Development area, and the Fifth Avenue bike path runs along the South side of the parcel.

1200 Block of 5 Ave NW 

1220, 1218, 1214, 1212, 1210, 1206,
1204, and 1202 – 5 Ave NW

Policies & Guides

Several statutory and policy documents govern this parcel including:

Municipal Development Plan

The site is located within the Residential – Developed – Inner City Area as identified on Map 1: Urban Structure in the Municipal Development Plan (MDP).

Section 2.2.5 and 2.3.2 of the MDP seeks to create strong residential neighbourhoods while respecting and enhancing neighbourhood character.  An evolved range of housing types are expected to help achieve the goal of stabilizing the population decline and supporting the changing demographic needs of communities.

Section 2.4.2 of the MDP: Built Form Policies Site and Building Design – “f. iv. Minimizing the shadow and wind impacts on adjacent residential areas and parks and open spaces.”

Neighbourhood Connector,
Map 3: Urban Form (pg 23, LAP)

Riley Communities Local Area Plan (LAP)

The Riley Communities Local Area Plan (LAP) Land Use Policy section indicates that development in Neighbourhood Connector areas should support a higher frequency of units and entrances facing the street.

The LAP identifies the subject parcel as
Neighbourhood Connector in Map 3 Urban Form.

The maximum building height allowed is up to
12-storeys as per Building Scale Map 4.

Section 2.2.1.5 states that Neighbourhood Connector areas are characterized by a broad range of housing types along higher activity, predominantly residential streets.

Mid-rise (12-storeys),
Map 4: Building Scale (pg 24, LAP)

Urban Design Review Panel (UDRP)

This project meets the criteria for referral to Urban Design Review Panel (as identified in the Guide to Urban Design Review) and will be referred to the Panel (UDRP) for review during the Development Permit application process.

The UDRP is a Council-appointed peer review group of professional architects, planners, landscape architects, and engineers. Through their varied professional expertise, they encourage high design standards by providing independent, “best practice” review and comment on the urban design and architecture of development applications.

group of people looking at landscape and architectural drawings

Applications

To achieve the new Riley Communities Local Area Plan policies and targets, a redesignation (rezoning) is required. The redesignation is being submitted as a stand-alone application at this time.

A subsequent Development Permit application will be submitted during the Redesignation application process and will be tied to the approval of the redesignation by Council.

Redesignation (Rezoning) Application

Application Differences

An application for Redesignation from the existing Direct Control (DC) Bylaw 2016D34 District to a new DC Bylaw will be submitted to the City after early public engagement.

The new Direct Control bylaw will seek to codify:

  • A height of 12-Storeys (42m) to align with the LAP.
  • A Floor Area Ratio (FAR) of 6, allowing up to 198,750 SF of development. (FAR is a zoning metric that defines the ratio of a building’s total floor area to the size of the land parcel on which it is built. The Ezra development is noted as having an FAR of 4).
  • Setbacks and stepbacks on the upper floors to reduce the impact of shadow onto Riley Park and improve daylighting of residential units in the development.
  • The legacy Community Amenity Fund levy from the HSCA Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) that is reflected in the LAP at Section 2.7 (b).
  • Address the narrow laneway to the North, converting it to a pedestrian area and matching the Ezra development to the West.

Redesignation / Zoning primarily deals with what land can be used for and the general parameters that govern development including:

  • Types of uses allowed
  • Density of units
  • Maximum height and overall size of building (FAR)
  • Parking requirements
  • Public realm requirements
  • Height and shape of development (max. envelope, not design)
  • Set-backs and step-backs required (max. envelope, not actual design)
  • Levy contributions
  • May include overarching design requirements

The Development Permit focuses on the detailed  design, safety, and  regulatory compliance  for specific projects  within the established  zoning framework including:

  • Detailed site plan review and approval
  • Building design, layout, and materials
  • Utility connections
  • Safety and accessibility compliance
  • Construction and operations review

The Building Permit validates that the detailed design and construction plans adhere to the Alberta  Building Code, Calgary’s  building standards, and  safety regulations.

For reference graphics of massing models, elevations, and footprint, please visit this site on a desktop computer. 

Rezoning Reference Images

Click on the images to open a larger copy.

South Elevation

This graphic details the proposed maximum height, set-backs, and step-backs on the East and West sides of the building to be codified within the DC Bylaw based on M-H2 zoning.

West Elevation

This graphic details the proposed maximum height, set-backs, Southern massing location, and upper step-backs on the North side of the building to reduce shadowing on Riley Park.

Sunlight & Footprint

This reference image of the draft building footprint shows how the towers and tower alignment reduce shadow impact and allow “daylighting” for the park and residents of the new building.

Early Development Images

Although the design of the development is not complete, to assist with
height and massing discussions, the following draft materials are provided.
Click on the images to open a PDF.

Draft Massing Models

The general mass and height of the project has been established to include: a two-storey podium area at grade, two 11 and 22 degree rotated towers rising to 12-storeys, and upper level vertical and horizontal massing articulation (step-backs). These choices seek to improve ‘daylighting’ for residents of the towers and reduce shadow impact on Riley Park.

Shadow Studies

A shadow study shows how shadows cast by a building change throughout the day and year, helping to assess their impact on surrounding areas. The Harriet is being designed to minimize the shadow cast on Riley Park. These shadow studies show the existing tree canopy shadows in blue, and the added shadows from The Harriet in orange. 

Height Elevations

These mass-only elevations are scaled drawings that depict the overall shape and form of each vertical face, illustrating the building’s height and shape. These elevations focus on the spatial arrangement and proportions of the massing without including detailed design or surface treatments.

Public Engagement

This application is estimated to be a “1B” engagement rating on the Outreach Assessment Matrix from the City of Calgary requiring 4-6 outreach tools.

This application is utilizing eight Outreach Tools & Tactics to engage with stakeholders:

  • This webpage for online engagement – EngageHarriet.com
  • Direct Mailing of printed materials
    (to neighbours within 2 blocks surrounding the site)
  • HSCA Planning Committee presentations
    First will be May 26.
  • Public Open Houses – First will be on:
    Wednesday, May 28 @ 6:30 – 8 pm
    at the Hearth Room at HSCA
  • Councillor / Ward Office meeting
  • Local stakeholder engagement re: the 5th Ave Bike Lane improvements
  • Email feedback form (below)
  • Direct Contact email and phone provided (bottom of page)

Feedback

We remain open to your feedback, concerns and questions. Please use the form below to contact us.
We will forward your comments to the assigned file manager at the City of Calgary and reply to your questions.

9 + 2 =

Enter number into box and click enter to submit form.

Your Feedback

We remain open to feedback throughout the application process and will provide your concerns and comments to the file manager, or you may contact them directly.

The Applicant

Jennifer Dobbin
Dobbin Consulting Inc.
(403) 922-9365
[email protected]

City of Calgary Contact

Tyler Josephson
Planner II – Community Planning (South)
M 403-604-5236  [email protected]

Please reference file: LOC2025-0068