5.3 Environmental Policy Area

Goal:
To protect natural and environmentally sensitive areas and promote environmentally responsible and sustainable development practices.

Intent

The basic intent of the Environmental Policy Area is to conserve environmentally sensitive areas within the North Saskatchewan River and Sturgeon Valleys and to enhance preservation of the character of these areas through managing growth and development in a manner that is congruent with the goals and objectives of this plan. In doing so, the area will accommodate future activities in an environmentally sustainable manner. This ongoing accommodation will be instrumental in establishing the Heartland Area as a truly eco-industrial development. The area will also continue to reinforce the North Saskatchewan River and Valley as a significant regional and national, natural feature. Policy directions for the Environmental Policy Area reflect environmental and open space policies already in place through the MDP and Sturgeon County’s Open Space Plan adopted by County Council. The preservation of open spaces and enhancement of outdoor recreation opportunities are important to maintaining and enhancing the quality of life for Sturgeon County residents.

Objectives

to conserve environmentally sensitive areas;
to conserve and enhance the integrity of the North Saskatchewan River Valley;
to conserve wildlife habitat and corridors;
to conserving recreational and educational opportunities consistent with the setting while protecting and enhancing the river valley character; and
to allow current land uses to continue where and as appropriate.

Policies

5.3.1	Environmentally Sensitive and Significant Areas	Sturgeon County shall require any developer to identify and prepare landscape management plans to effectively nurture the evolving character of these environmentally sensitive areas.
5.3.2	Enhancing Wildlife Habitants and Areas of Cultural Significance	Sturgeon County should encourage landowners to participate in landscape management initiatives that foster appropriate conservation of habitat and areas of cultural significance.
5.3.3	Hazard Lands	Sturgeon County shall not permit permanent development in areas that are prone to erosion, subsidence or flooding particularly in the 1 in 100 year event.
5.3.4	Control of Development Adjoining the North Saskatchewan and Sturgeon Rivers	Sturgeon County will require a 50 m (164 ft) lot setback from the top of the bank of the North Saskatchewan and Sturgeon River Valleys to provide for an environmental buffer and recreation corridor. This should consist of 30 m (98 ft) Environmental Reserve (ER) dedication as required by the MDP, with the balance of 20 m (66 ft) taken as Environmental Reserve (ER), Municipal Reserve (MR) and / or conservation easement. The 30 m (98 ft) generally commences from the 1:100 year flood line unless a discernable top of bank exists beyond this. The embankment is often a geotechnical constraint and therefore the 50 m (164 ft) setback should generally commence beyond this.
5.3.5	Top of Bank Survey	To enable the determination of top of bank setbacks in Policy 5.3.4, each industry proponent shall undertake a top of bank survey for the North Saskatchewan River and Sturgeon River as a condition of the development permit.
5.3.6	Historical and Archaeological Resources Assessment	Sturgeon County shall refer any rezoning, subdivision or development applications for review and comment to Alberta Community Development. Where deemed necessary, a Historical Resources Impact Assessment would be required as part of the application submission.
5.3.7	Extensive Agriculture	Sturgeon County shall allow extensive agricultural pursuits such as grazing and cropping to continue both on top of the bank and below the bank while ensuring that all appropriate controls and codes of practice are utilized as need be in the continuance and modification of existing operations.
5.3.8	Intensive Agriculture	Sturgeon County shall allow intensive agricultural operations to continue to operate and expand where appropriate. Additions and modifications to current operations will be allowed if necessary to the continued viability of the operation. Consistent with Policy 5.3.11, no new residences will be allowed. New intensive agricultural operations, such as sod farms and market gardens, will be permitted upon completion of an environmental assessment considering such things as setback from the top of the bank, slope stability, and integration with possible recreation uses such as trails.
5.3.9	Passive Recreation	Sturgeon County shall require where feasible the development and maintenance of greenway corridors both through the North Saskatchewan and Sturgeon River Valleys and along the top of the bank to accommodate a series of trails for both hiking and biking as well as connecting with other corridors within the County and adjacent to the County.
5.3.10	No Multi-Lot Residential Subdivisions	Sturgeon County shall not allow any new residential multi-lot subdivisions or mobile home / manufactured home parks within the Environmental Policy Area to minimize potential conflict between residential intensification and nearby heavy industrial uses.
5.3.11	Existing Residences	Within lands encompassed by the Environmental Policy Area, no new dwellings shall be permitted on previously undeveloped land. Dwelling units existing at the time of the adoption of this Bylaw may be upgraded or expanded and rebuilt if destroyed.
5.3.12	Utility Corridors and Crossings	Sturgeon County will review applications for utility installations, corridors and crossings within the Environmental Policy Area on a case-by-case basis. Appropriate Environmental Impact Assessments will need to be prepared with input from County, Provincial, and Federal agencies in accordance with their respective regulatory responsibilities. This will necessitate on a provincial level reference to the Alberta’s Water Act and associated regulations and codes pertaining to pipelines and telecommunication lines crossing the North Saskatchewan River. On a federal level this will include reference to the Canadian Environmental Assessment Act as administered by Environment Canada, the Fisheries Act as administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada and the Navigable Waters Protection Act as administered by Fisheries and Oceans Canada – Coast Guard.