14.4 Trail Corridor Areas

Interconnection and transformation

Currently, developed Trail Corridor Areas, which are important to both regional and economic development, are dominated by vehicle-oriented commercial activities. Through the implementation of Flourish, they will shift to become more transit-oriented, mixed-use areas. Undeveloped Trail Corridor Areas present an opportunity to plan and develop a walkable, mixed-use neighbourhood through interconnected streets and smaller blocks of development. The following policies encourage Trail Corridor Areas to accommodate residential (mostly apartment, but also townhouse, developments) and office buildings, in addition to retail uses. This transformation is expected to accelerate with the introduction of rapid transit service along St. Albert Trail. The boundaries of Trail Corridor Areas, as generally illustrated on Map 3, will be refined through subsequent municipal planning documents and may not be limited to existing commercial lands.

Policies

14.4.1.

Encourage a range of uses in Trail Corridor Areas, including retail, office, medium- and high-density housing, institutions, parks, and public spaces.

14.4.2.

Support the design, development, and redevelopment of Trail Corridor Areas as regional economic hubs that service the larger region.

14.4.3.

Encourage the transition of Trail Corridor Areas from vehicle-oriented to transit-oriented development.

14.4.4.

Initiate Area Redevelopment Plans or master development plans for each Trail Corridor Area that guide public investments and private development.

14.4.5.

Incorporate a mix of unit types, sizes, and tenures to meet the needs of people of all ages, incomes, and abilities.

14.4.6.

Encourage intensification to occur within 400 metres of existing and planned Rapid Transit Station Areas, as shown on Map 3, and include medium- or high-density forms, or both.

14.4.7.

Plan undeveloped Trail Corridor Areas to become mixed-use, transit-supportive places with a framework of interconnected streets that facilitate intensification over time.

14.4.8.

Encourage the presence of vertical mixed-use buildings with commercial or institutional uses on the ground floor and office space or residential dwellings on upper floors.

14.4.9.

Encourage new retail buildings, community facilities, and other amenities to be easily accessed from adjacent Neighbourhoods by walking or cycling.

14.4.10.

Promote future development that contributes to a pedestrian-friendly environment and encourages walking between uses. Buildings should be oriented to, and have their main entrances, on a public street.

Designing for pedestrians

Strategies and design approaches to encourage a more lively, inviting and pedestrian-oriented public realm include:

Orienting buildings to public streets or open spaces, with minimal setbacks and main entrances directly accessible from the sidewalk;
Locating active uses, such as retail and restaurants, on the ground floor along commercial streets;
Making sure that driveways are positioned to minimize conflict with pedestrians;
Locating parking at the rear of buildings, underground, or in above-ground structures;
Designing buildings to reinforce a consistent streetwall height and stepping back the portions of buildings above three or four storeys to keep a pedestrian-scale environment; and
Using durable, attractive building materials.

14.4.11.

Incorporate a gradual transition in height and density towards the existing Neighbourhoods bordering Trail Corridor Areas.

14.4.12.

Reduce surface parking during site redevelopment and through innovative parking options.

14.4.13.

Notwithstanding policies 14.4.1, 14.4.2, 14.4.3, 14.4.6, and 14.4.8, enable high density development with a maximum density of 200 dwelling units per net residential hectare at 200 Giroux Road (Lot 1, Block 1, Plan 142 3673; including any future revisions to this legal land description based on a subdivision or condominium plan) within the neighbourhood of Ville Giroux.

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