Sprawl because of you: the emergence of smart growth policy in Calgary, Alberta

This paper analyzes whether Smart Growth policies, embedded within the City of Calgary’s Municipal Development Plan, have been successful in battling sprawl and progressing towards the overarching goals of Smart Growth. A review of the literature and a historical review of urban sprawl in Calgary establishes a set of indicators demonstrating that the city is struggling to progress towards the goals of Smart Growth. While there are encouraging findings, the paper recommends the potential implementation of policy changes to ensure that The City is well-positioned to combat sprawl going forward.