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A proposed redevelopment in Marda Loop prompted a debate on city council this week about whether there’s a “war on the car” being waged in Calgary.
But coming on the heels of a pair of pedestrian deaths, Ward 8 Coun. Nathaniel Schmidt called the claim “irresponsible.”
The debate stems from a proposed land use change that city council discussed on Tuesday for a six-storey redevelopment on 34th Avenue S.W. in the city’s Marda Loop community. The development would include 44 housing units as well as commercial space, but its applicant asked the city to relax its minimum parking requirements down to 12 stalls, arguing more than half of households in the area own one or zero cars.
Dan McLean argued in city hall last week that there’s a “war” on cars currently in Calgary, criticizing new developments that don’t have enough parking space. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean voted against the development and connected it to a larger “attack” on cars that he said he sees in Calgary.
“We’re a car-centric city and province, and so to neglect that is irresponsible,” said McLean.
“It would be different if we lived in Paris or New York. But we’ve got a lot of room to grow.”
McLean argued people are fighting to get around in denser communities, and that the competition for parking spots in some parts of Calgary is leading to more road rage.
Ward 8 Coun. Nathaniel Schmidt pushed back on a claim in council last week that there’s a “war on cars” in Calgary. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
But Schmidt, who represents Marda Loop residents, argued the development presents a more affordable option for potential residents that own less than two vehicles.
“When we have certain developments that have less parking, there is a market for it. I myself would be in that market owning one vehicle with kids,” Schmidt said in council on Tuesday.
“By framing it as a war, we are moving the conversation to a negative place where it assumes how people live. It’s not our job to assume how people live, it’s our job to give them the opportunity to live how they want to live.”
Council debate follows pair of pedestrian deaths
The debate came days after a pair of pedestrian deaths in Calgary last weekend. A man in his 70s died after being struck by a tractor trailer, while in a marked crosswalk, on Monday morning. A day earlier, a toddler died, while being pushed in a stroller by two adults, after being struck by a Jeep Cherokee turning into an intersection at a marked crosswalk.
WATCH | A new development in Marda Loop stirred up debate in city hall:
Is there a ‘war on the car’ in Calgary? Parking spots prompt city hall debate
A proposed redevelopment in Marda Loop is stirring up debate at city hall on the future of parking in Calgary. With fewer spots than units planned for the building, Ward 13 Coun. Dan McLean suggests there’s a ‘war on the car’ in the city.
Later in the week, Schmidt posted to social media that blaming a lack of parking for increased road rage and claiming there’s a “war on cars,” days after two Calgarians were killed while walking in marked crosswalks, is “irresponsible.”
“Calgary saw a record 15 pedestrians killed in 2025. This is a failure of leadership. We must do better,” said Schmidt.
Walk Score, an online index ranking pedestrian friendliness in different cities, classifies Calgary as a car-dependent city where most errands require a car.
A new development in Marda Loop stirred up debate on city council last week after it proposed new residential units with few parking spaces. (Brendan Coulter/CBC)
The Marda Loop development up for debate on council also met some community pushback.
City hall received a letter to council from the Marda Loop Communities Association, as well as letters of opposition that city administration received from the public. The letters argued the parking proposed for the building would be insufficient, and that the area already presents a challenge for drivers to find parking.
Council still voted 11-4 in favour of the land use change. A development permit application is still under review.