Article content

A new set of infill rules would force builders to change home designs for Edmonton’s mature neighbourhoods.

If the new rules pass, builders will have to use at least three materials on each street-facing facade and won’t be able to build identical homes side by side.

We apologize, but this video has failed to load.

tap here to see other videos from our team. Try refreshing your browser, or No cookie-cutter homes under proposed Edmonton infill rules Back to video

These and other changes to the mature neighbourhood zoning rules will be discussed Thursday from 4 pm. to 8 p.m. at the Chateau Louis on Kingsway Avenue.

Here are highlights of the proposed changes:

Rear attached garages

Responding to consumer demand, new rules would allow homebuilders to construct attached garages in the backyard for the first time. But they’ll only be allowed on lots 15 metres (50 feet) or wider and may hold a maximum of two vehicles.

At the same time, regulations would tighten rules for front attached garages, restricted to where no back lane exists or where the previous house had a front driveway.

But rear attached garages worry some residents. They change the pattern on the block, keeping sun from neighbours’ backyards, said Susan Kamp, planning director with the Belgravia Community League: “Having space between the house and garage is pretty important, otherwise you end up with these little enclosed backyards.”