iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 31/07/2026

This is one of those moments when a manger needs to say this will be taken very seriously and then give an early career planner a break. He has likely learned the lesson well. In 15 minutes the media focus on this will be over. No need to overreact.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/03/2026

Those of you interested in Winter City issues should follow Edmonton’s Winter City Group.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

I’m explaining the whole “we change time twice a year” thing to my cat (because she thinks it’s feeding time) and realizing that my cat is more sensible on this than our governments are (Saskatchewan is also sensible like my cat).

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 02/11/2025

If the individual members of any unit want to collectively sign on to a statement, they could do so. Units shouldn’t speak on behalf of their members.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 31/10/2025

Everything is up and working! We are a go!

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 12/10/2025

I was right in line with Skinners’ goal line in row 12 for goal 3. Time slowed down. It was like a car crash.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 17/09/2025

While this process sounds unworkable, I am certain that an AI would do a better job marking than 80% of TAs and at least 30% of Instructors. I’m not currently marking essays, but if I were, I think using AI as a first run through and sort would be very helpful.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 15/09/2025

The health care card addition is nice though.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 14/09/2025

Bryan, I live in Canada and we do not face the same issue here. With that said, the left needs to recognize how it contributed to Trump getting elected through its own attacks on liberalism (classical liberalism).

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

I think cancel culture harmed the openness of speech at universities. Many topics deserving of debate became taboo in a very short period of time. This has had a negative impact on the quality of debate and discussion.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 13/09/2025

The federal government should be working with provincial governments and Universities across Canada to recruit targeted clusters of researchers to each major institution. This is a once in a centre to rapidly advance Canadian innovation.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 31/07/2025

Canada is in a tough spot now. Had other nations and institutions (Harvard , Law firms, CBS, etc) held firm, the economic and other consequences of Trump’s bullying would have started to really hurt the USA, but we find ourselves rather alone in the fight now which is not a great situation.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 14/07/2025

There are folks who are upset that Edmonton councillor Tim Cartmell is on a vacation with his family. Being a councillor takes a huge amount of time in one’s life. I think it’s perfectly reasonable that these folks get a break to spend time with their family. It’s a non issue.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

This is a great example of why I prefer not having parties with party-line voting in local politics. Councilors are free to vote as they see fit and you get very unusual mixed outcomes like this. Nobody would speak about a Janz, Knack, Principe, Rice, and Salvador voting block.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Got it, sorry for the misinterpretation!

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

I think it's totally reasonable to take more time to discuss this. With that said, after November we will be dealing with a different group of councilors (who will be selected based upon the feelings of the public). We will probably come out of that election okay, but it's not certain.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

We will only know the actual market impacts if the change is made. If you are an advocate for good urbanism, public perception matters. Toronto made a huge step backwards when Rob Ford was elected. Edmonton has been a leader because it has managed to maintain progress through incrementalism.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

The size limits the number of units, but it still allows six to be viable and it's a meaningful increase in density relative to what exists and what was permitted prior to 2024. In Toronto it was kind of a 'fake' expansion of development rights that didn't really allow any change to happen.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Two things are true about Edmonton's zoning bylaw. There is no 'right' decision today in council. It's amazing that nearly every speaker is taking positions between 4 and 8 units across most of the city. I wouldn't have believed this could happen 5 years ago.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

There are also cases like Toronto which allowed 4 units, but then made the building envelope so restrictive that 4 units were not viable.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Or may the modifier is square meters per unit required. RS u50, RS u75, RS u100, RS u125. I'm just brainstorming here.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

The relatively 'flat' RS (small residential) zone in Edmonton may (or may not) need to shift to allowing more or fewer units (perhaps per square meter). If that turns out to be the case, maybe a 'U' modifier gets added. RS u4, RS u6, RS u10...

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

I'll add that is very strange for me to be on the side of any retreat from liberalizing the zoning bylaw. I've been championing zoning bylaw reform in Edmonton since about 2007. That the debate is now between 4 and 8 units per lot everywhere is almost surreal to me.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Toronto and all of southern Ontario is a basketcase of zoning restriction, slow and unnecessary bureaucratic procedures, development charges, land transfer taxes, and so on. Indeed, the only reason we see high housing demand in Edmonton are people fleeing BC and Ont.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Edmonton also has a LOT of LRT transit with almost nothing but single detached housing in the 800m radius. So, commercial nodes struggle and LRT ridership can be low. We lack the vibrant dense areas of other cities and policy can help create these.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

One key factor here is the difference between Edmonton and Toronto. Edmontonians won't walk as far as Torontonians for transit before just staying with their car. Parking is ample and cheap here and winters are colder. Once you are past the 800m mark from an LRT stop, its no different than 10km.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Finally, in a 'good planning' sense, in a highly auto-dependent city like Edmonton, I worry about the rise of density that perpetuates and expands auto-dependency. eightplexes that don't have good transit or amenities within 600 or so meters won't contribute to any mode shift (which is needed)

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Politically, it is a very clear message (vs the development requirements). 6 vs 8 is easy to understand. The hard opponents won't be satisfied, but I am hearing a lot of broad opposition from parents around the soccer field which is more important to me than the organized opponents.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Don't get me started on development charges in Ont. Functionally, there are a few less bins, perhaps a few less cars, and perhaps a little less site activity. With that noted, the development regulations (setbacks, max length) make 6 the functional max anyway. This just reflects that.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

So, the 'right number of units per site' for the RS zone isn't any specific number. The question is really whether or not we are maintaining enough land supply for densification to avoid land price increases.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

You could, for example, restrict Glenora, Crestwood, and Aspen Gardens to single detached homes and it wouldn't meaningfully affect affordability in Edmonton. The old ZB which restricted 85% of residential to single homes was too restrictive to maintain affordability.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

That surplus means that potential developers have MANY landowners they can buy from. This prevents any price increase due to development rights (a driving cost factor in Ont & BC). My take it that Edmonton is maintaining this surplus regardless of the decision today.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Lots of discussion today in Edmonton City Council about the 'right number of units per lot'. Here is my take. There needs to be a huge surplus of potential sites for denser forms of development (towers, walks ups, row housing, etc).

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 08/07/2025

Aspiring planners should watch today's questions to administration from City of Edmonton council. Today's issue is a tough one with political and practical concerns. Admin is doing a really solid job at responding to the complexity if the issue.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/07/2025

"Nobody is going to want to live in these 8-plex units. They have no yard, and the rooms are small, and where will they park all of their cars"

media.tenor.com

a woman is sitting at a table in a living room talking to a man .

ALT: a woman is sitting at a table in a living room talking to a man .

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I presented to City Council today. My goal was to ensure that everyone was a little angry with me. I think I achieved that successfully. #jobwelldone

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

This is not a clear cut decision. Staying with the status quo of 8 units per site may be in the public interest. These 8-plexes are providing a lot of new and needed missing middle housing units. Councilors have a lot to consider here when they make this decision.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

Further, the City should identify sites near nodes & corridors where 8-plexes should be allowed on all sites. This would help to concentrate density in areas well served by transit, & maintain a large enough supply of potential sites to avoid a speculative increase in land costs.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

I think this negative impact will be significantly mitigated by continued development of 6-plexes, development in higher density zones, and the availability of 8-plex sites. The city should work to increase the number of 8-plex sites by including sites adjacent to alleyways, parks, etc.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 03/07/2025

With regards to the decision being made today at Edmonton City Council. I indicated a mild level of support for a reduction from mid-block developments from 8 to 6. This change will almost certainly reduce the number of units that are built as infill in mature neighbourhoods.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 02/07/2025

Edmontonians. If you are wanting to watch the fireworks, make sure you can see the High Level Bridge. Otherwise you miss a lot of them. Many people are on the North side of the Legislature and they will miss most of them.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 30/06/2025

For those who follow Edmonton City Council hearings, I’m listed as “in favour” on item 3.1. That’s an error, I’m registered for item 3.32. If I were speaking to 3.1, I might be opposed (but I haven’t taken the time to fully evaluate it).

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Reposted by Bob (Robert) Summers

Jens von Bergmann @jensvb.bsky.social · 21/06/2025

In BC, like in most places, zoning is a regulatory tool, not a fiscal tool. Selling zoning is illegal. For good reason. To get around that, municipalities ask for “voluntary” payments in exchange for changing zoning, but that’s a delicate line to walk. One judge thinks Langley Township crossed it.

surreynowleader.com

Film studio wins lawsuit with Langley Township over millions in fees

Township will consider appealing, mayor says

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Other members of yegcc are free to like this in their heads if they don't want to publicly click 'like'.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Is there good data on this. I wonder if some of this is a bit of a culture of having roommates at a younger age in Alberta? It may also be a supply issue. I do worry about the lost supply of basement suites as people have likely stopped renting many that were 'illegal'.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

Left wing, right wing, populist, or whatever. I'd appreciate it if Councilor Rice's ward would elect someone who has the slightest clue as to how municipal governance and council meetings work. It would also be nice if they appeared to pay attention to the issue being discussed.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

I'll note that my position isn't firm here, but I do think there is a role for planning to consider this issue.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

It's also important to remember that this is only one form of development. We will still have larger forms of multifamily elsewhere (closer to transit and amenity). There is some risk here of density without urbanism where there is little coordination between density, transit and amenity.

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Bob (Robert) Summers @rjsummers.bsky.social · 04/06/2025

With that said, the amendments offered today address a lot of concerns and will likely reduce unit numbers for mid-block developments in any case.

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