1. Law of diminishing returns on our tax dollars:

The concern regarding the law of diminishing tax dollars and the impact of additional residents on public infrastructure is as a city densifies, the cost per resident for providing public services tends to increase. This is because while the population increases, the cost of maintaining and expanding infrastructure such as roads, sanitation systems, parks, schools, and hospitals also rises. There is also a maximum number of residents that can be accommodated in a land mass sustainably.

Rapid densification without proper planning makes this issue much worse. If the infrastructure is not expanded or improved in tandem with population growth, it can lead to overcrowding, traffic congestion, inadequate access to public services, and overall strain on the quality of life for residents.

For example, increased traffic congestion due to insufficient road capacity can lead to longer commute times and decreased air quality. This will have a significant impact on those residents and parks along Elbow drive where speed limits are 30 km/hour. It may have a safety consequence to residents using the Elbow river pathways and children walking to nearby schools because with increased use also comes increased volume and speeds.

Also, overcrowded schools may result in larger class sizes and decreased educational outcomes in a
school district that is already over-capacity with both Elboya and Western Canada high schools on a
lottery system. A strain on healthcare facilities can lead to longer wait times and reduced access to
healthcare services. This area doesn’t have a working hospital as the Holy Cross hospital was shut down and the Children’s hospital was repurposed for other health services.

Calgary is known for its ample city parks and for its walkability and biking path system. Inadequate parks and green spaces to offset the increased population is not in keeping with other green living and sustainability initiatives.

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Therefore, it is essential to carefully consider the long-term impact on public infrastructure before
proceeding with upzoning or any other development that increases population density. Proper planning should include measures to ensure that infrastructure keeps pace with population growth, such as investing in transportation systems, expanding school and healthcare facilities, and preserving or creating green spaces. It's crucial for policymakers and urban planners to carefully consider the long-term impact of upzoning, or increasing the allowed density of development in a given area, on public infrastructure. Proper planning can help mitigate these challenges by ensuring that infrastructure keeps pace with population growth, ultimately creating more sustainable and livable communities.

2. Over-Capacity

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The concept of a maximum sustainable population for any given land-mass fundamentally means that every area has a carrying capacity. That carrying capacity is the maximum number of residents(human and others) that the land-mass can sustain indefinitely without degrading the environment.

For human populations, factors such as availability of resources including; variety in local amenities,
grocery shops, clean accessible water, and affordable energy, waste absorption capacity (ability of the environment to absorb and process waste), and environmental harm (including pollution and habitat destruction) play crucial roles in determining the sustainable population level.

Understanding and respecting this maximum sustainable population is important for ensuring that
development and growth do not exceed the capacity of the environment to support life. Overpopulation can lead to resource depletion, environmental degradation, and decreased quality of life for the inhabitants. Sustainable development practices aim to balance human needs with the capacity of the environment to support those needs both now and in the future.

3. Environmental harm
 

Even if population capacity is sensitively handled, densification may cause environmental harm to the Elbow River water system resulting from increased runoff carrying pollutants, as well as potential sewage and waste disposal issues if infrastructure is not adequately upgraded to handle the increased population. This can have serious consequences for water quality and the health of aquatic ecosystems.

The impact on wildlife, including wolves, deer, rabbits, and waterfowl, can be significant. As their habitats are disrupted or destroyed to make way for new development, these species may face challenges in finding food, shelter, and safe breeding grounds. Increased human activity and the presence of domestic pets associated with denser populations can also disrupt wildlife behaviour and lead to conflicts.

A thorough environmental impact assessment for the West Elbow Local Area is needed and will help identify potential risks and develop mitigation strategies to minimize harm to the environment and wildlife. It's essential that this environmental assessment be conducted before any upzoning takes place to ensure that development is sustainable and environmentally responsible.

4. Housing affordability

While upzoning may work on some targeted blocks and neighbourhoods, this type of policy can also lead to pricing out residents in other areas or lead to slum-like rental conditions. The blanket application of upzoning may not achieve the intended objectives. We need to advocate for more targeted and thoughtful approaches to upzoning that consider the unique characteristics and needs of different areas.

The idea here is that while upzoning can be a useful tool for increasing housing supply and affordability in specific areas, applying it broadly across a community may not yield the desired outcomes.

1. Targeted Impact: Upzoning can work well in certain blocks or neighbourhoods where there is a demand for increased density and where it aligns with the existing infrastructure and neighbourhood characteristics. However, in other areas blanket upzoning can lead to gentrification and displacement as property values rise and lower-income residents are priced out.

2. Unintended Consequences: The blanket upzoning may not achieve the intended objectives of increasing affordable housing and improving housing access for all income levels. It may instead exacerbate income inequalities and create social and economic challenges in communities that are already struggling.

3. Need for Thoughtful Approach to Upzoning: Advocates for more targeted and thoughtful approaches to upzoning argue that policies should consider the unique characteristics and needs of different areas. This might involve zoning changes that are tailored to specific neighbourhoods or blocks, taking into account factors such as existing housing stock, infrastructure, and community preferences.

Overall, the key message is that while upzoning can be a valuable tool for addressing housing issues, its application should be carefully considered and tailored to the specific circumstances of each neighbourhood to avoid unintended consequences.