The 15-Minute City is an urban planning concept that has been gaining traction across Canadian cities. It is aimed at creating cities where residents can access most of their daily needs—such as work, school, healthcare, shopping, and recreation—within a 15-minute walk or bike ride from their homes. The goal is to reduce reliance on cars, promote sustainable modes of transport, improve quality of life, and enhance the local environment. The basic premise of a 15-minute city is that it relies on the seven basic principles of human-scale urban design, diversity, proximity, flexibility, digitalization, density, and connectivity.
Edmonton Brewery District
The concept emphasizes the development of mixed-use neighborhoods that offer a variety of services and amenities within close proximity, promoting walkability, cycling, and public transportation. It further highlights the importance of green spaces, community engagement, bike lanes, multi-use paths, and aims to reduce the environmental impact of urban life by enhancing the self-sufficiency and livability of cities. This initiative-taking approach seeks to foster a stronger sense of community, improve health by encouraging active transport, and address challenges like traffic congestion and air pollution.
Historical Urban Planning
Historically, the planning approach prevalent in the decades after the Second World War was characterized by single-use zoning and low-density suburban development that relied on inexpensive fossil energy, cars, and public investment in infrastructure. This urban planning concept is still evident in several central Edmonton neighborhoods such as Westmount, Glenora, and Parkview. Many homes in these neighborhoods have massive lots and low-density making residents rely more heavily on their cars to access goods and services.
The Warehouse Park Project will bring a new, signature community park to central Edmonton. Construction began July 2024 and is anticipated to be complete before the end of 2025. Several mixed-use developments are being developed with the Warehouse Park as the focal point.
Features of 15-minute City
Here are some of the key features of a 15-minute city that have proven to make neighborhoods more connected and accessible:
- Local employment opportunities
- Doctor and dental offices
- Schools and learning facilities.
- Playgrounds, parks, spray parks, soccer fields, basketball courts and skating rinks
- Green spaces and gardens
- Sports and recreation facilities
- Safe streets and spaces
- Affordable housing options
- Flexibility to age in the neighborhood
- Housing diversity (a mix of apartments, duplexes, garden suites, single family dwellings, basement suites, etc.)
- Walkability (within 15 minutes)
- Cycling networks
- Public transportation
Changes to City of Edmonton Bylaws
The 15 Minute City concept has been in progressively making its way into new developments in Edmonton. The city of Edmonton changed zoning bylaws as of January 1, 2024, to make it easier for developers to make 15-minute cities. Some of the new zoning bylaws include:
- Starting January 1, 2024, Edmonton will allow three-storey townhouses or apartments, rowhouses, and duplexes with up to eight units in any residential area. The single-home zoning bylaw will be eliminated, creating a flexible Small Scale Residential zone permitting secondary suites, zero lot line housing, reduced setbacks, cluster housing, and more.
- Mixed Use Neighborhood Zones will enable small-scale mixed-use buildings, up to four storeys, in neighborhood commercial centers. This will support housing, recreation, business, and employment opportunities. Allowed building types include four-storey mixed-use developments with ground-level commercial space and residential units above, as well as residential-only buildings like smaller apartment blocks or row housing.
- Commercial activities have floor area limits to ensure larger businesses remain at neighborhood peripheries. The goal is to support pedestrian-friendly environments.
New mixed-zone bylaws will integrate residential, business, and commercial development. Small restaurants, coffee shops, and retail stores will be encouraged to open within neighborhoods, like the Dogpatch pub restaurant in Riverdale, Edmonton.
Acme Meats located at the Richie Market in Ritchie, Edmonton.
Case Study in Edmonton
The Richie Neighborhood in southeast Edmonton exemplifies a mixed-use development encouraging walking and biking. The Ritchie Market features a butchery, brewery, bakery, market, and coffee shop, all central to the residential area. The development won the 2017 Edmonton Urban Design Award for its functionality, livability, and vibrancy.
Superblock Model
The Superblock Model is an urban planning concept in which municipalities reconfigure road networks to position vehicles and public transportation around the periphery of a 400 square meter block. The objective is to enhance the quality of public spaces for pedestrians and cyclists, as well as to facilitate leisure and community activities within the superblock.
The Path Forward
With the support from politicians and the public, developers can work towards designing 15-minute cities that promote diversity, proximity, flexibility, digitalization, density, and connectivity. Pairing with an experienced local civil engineering firm will help smooth the development process. Bolson and Environmental Services has been collaborating with developers since 2007 across Alberta on new and existing developments. We will be happy to consult with you as your trusted civil engineering partner.
