Area Redevelopment Plans (ARPs) are planning documents that set out comprehensive land use policies and proposals to guide the future of individual communities.

The Bowness Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) was approved by City Council on December 17, 2019. The Bowness ARP's planning horizon is 10-15 years and was developed with Bownesian feedback. The ARP indicates that residential land use is a key strategy for Bowness. In Section 6.5 the City of Calgary has indicated that City owned lands presently designated for residential land use should be expedited and re-use to maximize housing choices.

The New Home for Families building is on City owned land currently designated as Residential - Grade Oriented Infill (R-CG). Adjacent properties are zoned as Multi-Residential Contextual Medium Profile District (M-C2) and Multi-Residential Contextual Low Profile District (M-C1).

In the Bowness ARP this parcel is designated as Neighbourhood Mid-Rise. The City of Calgary Developed Areas Guidebook (PDF) defines this as: predominantly for residential uses; up to six storeys in height; and providing a sensitive interface between higher intensity and lower intensity areas.

The property was originally acquired by the City in 1973 for future Shaganappi Trail/Bow River overpass that never progressed. The property’s current land use is Residential – Grade Oriented Infill (R-CG). The Bowness Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) was approved by City Council on December 17, 2019, identifying the property as within the “Neighbourhood – Mid-Rise” district, and did not include the parcel in its current or future open space plans.

The property was determined to be surplus to municipal requirements and on October 14, 2022, Council approved a Method of Disposition (MOD) that included 6623 Bowness Rd NW as a Non-Market Land Sale #3 (NMLS#3) site. The property was marketed in March 2023 and Trellis Society was selected as the successful applicant.

A portion of the proceeds of the sale are to be reinvested into other Park infrastructure elsewhere in the community.

Please refer to the 2019 Bowness Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) map for more information.

As part of the disposition of this land from the City of Calgary, a portion of the proceeds of the sales are to be re-invested into other Park infrastructure elsewhere in the community.

We know the current playground equipment is out of date. As Trellis also works, lives, and plays here in Bowness, we value outdoor safe play areas for all children and families. We will work with the City of Calgary to develop a park and playground in close proximity to the current location that is safe and accessible for all children and families.

Please refer to the 2019 Bowness Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) open space and schools map for more information.