Here's what you need to know about Edmonton's zoning bylaw overhaul

It's been decades since Edmonton has had a major overhaul of its zoning rules — but that's about to change. 

Edmonton city council's urban planning committee settled in for a lengthy discussion about city zoning on Tuesday.

More than 70 people signed up to speak about the sweeping rezoning process that comes with proposed bylaw changes.

It's one of the last steps before council votes on a final proposal to change the rules about what kind of development is allowed in the city, and where.

Here's what you need to know about the latest discussion and what comes next.

Work has been underway for years to update Edmonton's zoning bylaw.

The proposed overhaul consolidates the types of zones that dictate the type of development that's allowed from 46 to 24. 

If the new bylaw passes, it would mean rezoning more than 500 parcels of land across Edmonton to their new, most similar equivalent.

New "mixed-use zones" are on the table, with city officials saying they'll help facilitate a range of development for main streets and commercial areas like Whyte Avenue and 124th Street.

Residential zoning is also changing, making it so that housing up to three storeys tall — including duplexes, row housing and small apartments — is allowed in neighbourhoods across the city.

Someone who wants to build that type of housing would be able to simply apply for a development permit, rather than go through the rezoning process.

But a rezoning application would still be necessary for housing beyond three storeys, and the appeal process is also still the same.

Kim Petrin, the City of Edmonton's acting deputy city manager for urban planning and economy, said during Tuesday's meeting that the current zoning bylaw has "reached the end of its shelf life."

It's been repeatedly amended over the last two decades, and city officials say it's cumbersome.