The Calgary Real Estate Board is opposing the city’s plan to reorganize zones to allow for higher-density residential development.

The plan calls for the rezoning of all residential areas that now only permit single or semi-detached homes across the city, allowing for multi-residential units to be built on single lots. The plan has widespread implications for future rental-housing and condominium developments.

“Blanket rezoning is not the right solution to address Calgary’s housing challenges,” said Hong Wang, who chairs CREB’s government relations standing committee, in a news release.

Wang contended that the plan will drive up traffic congestion in neighbourhoods and put added strain on infrastructure and service quality.

“We oppose this approach and advocate for a more community-focused strategy to respond to Calgary’s housing shortage, shifting the focus away from a generalized housing crisis to the housing supply crisis that blanket zoning will make worse,” he said.

Wang said CREB acknowledged the need to address housing affordability. CREB wants the city to prioritize sustainable growth practices and engage in robust community consultation to balance housing need and neighbourhood preservation.

Substantial short-term population growth has outpaced new-home construction starts, contributing to a lack of rental and owned-home supply, said CREB Chief Economist Ann-Marie Lurie. he added.

She said the city’s approach will not address problems related to short rental supply.

A public hearing on the plan will be held April 22.