Strategic Regional Integration

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The City of St. Albert is a member municipality of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board (EMRB), which is a growth-management board established through the Municipal Government Act. The
purpose of a growth-management board is “to provide for integrated and strategic planning for future growth in municipalities.”

As part of this strategic planning for future growth, a 30-year regional growth plan was created by the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board and approved by the Government of Alberta in October
2017. The Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan provides direction for achieving the vision of a region that will grow collaboratively, make efficient use of infrastructure, foster economic opportunities, and create vibrant communities.

Growth Plan Principles

As a regional partner in the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board, St. Albert must ensure Flourish complies with the policies of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan, which is guided by the following seven principles:

1. Collaborate and coordinate as a Region to manage growth responsibly.
2. Promote global economic competitiveness and regional prosperity.
3. Recognize and celebrate the diversity of communities and promote an excellent quality of life across the Region.
4. Achieve compact growth that optimizes infrastructure investment.
5. Ensure effective regional mobility.
6. Ensure the wise management of prime agricultural resources.
7. Protect natural living systems and environmental assets.

Key Policy Directions and Targets

The Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan includes several key policy directions and targets that focus on a balanced, responsible approach to growth. These include:

• Establishing minimum greenfield residential density targets for new Neighbourhoods;
• Establishing aspirational intensification targets for built-up urban areas;
• Guiding transit-oriented development (TOD centres);
• Establishing aspirational density targets for urban centres;
• Planning for and promoting market affordable and non-market housing;
• Shifting away from reliance on private vehicle use by providing more transit and active transportation options;
• Conserving and restoring the natural environment, and protecting the regional and sub-regional watersheds; and
• Supporting regional prosperity by promoting job growth and economic diversification.

Structure Components

The Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan locates the City of St. Albert within the “Metropolitan Area” policy tier. This policy area supports a contiguous urban settlement pattern, consisting of elements such as major commercial development, health facilities, employment areas, and regional transit service. The regional growth plan contains “Structure Components” that reinforce existing urban communities and major employment areas while building on existing infrastructure and land use patterns. The following structure components have been applied to St. Albert’s urban structure, as seen in Map 2: Edmonton Metropolitan Region Growth Plan Structure and included in Map 3: Urban Structure and General Land Use:

• Built-up Urban Area
• Urban Centre (Downtown)
• Transit-oriented Development Centres (Mixed-use Nodes and Rapid Transit Station Areas)
• LRT Corridor (Trail Corridor Area - St. Albert Trail)
• Major Employment Area

Regional Context Statement

In September 2018, the City adopted a Regional Context Statement and submitted it to the Edmonton Metropolitan Region Board in accordance with the regional growth plan. The Regional Context Statement focuses on the regional guiding objectives applicable to St. Albert and provides a framework for planning policy alignment. The Regional Context Statement is an implementation tool, which assisted in the formation of the policies of Flourish.

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