Edmonton’s city council is about to review a proposed new zoning bylaw that would reduce the Alberta capital’s development zones.

Public hearings will be held in council chambers Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday before Mayor Amarjeet Sohi and councillors vote on the proposed bylaw.

If all goes according to plan, the number of zones would be cut to 23 from 46. The move would overhaul the local government’s permitting process and make it easier for commercial real estate developers and other builders to get projects approved and completed.

Zones would be divided into residential, mixed-use, commercial, open space and agriculture categories. The residential zones would allow for a mix of low, medium and high density and a category for properties transitioning to higher density.

Certain zones would be set for the city’s river valley and future urban development. The agriculture zone would protect farmland from future residential construction.