River Valley Mechanized Access Site Location Study
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River Valley Mechanized Access Site Location Study Final Report Prepared for: City of Edmonton Sustainable Development, Urban Planning and Environment Edmonton, Alberta Prepared by: Spencer Environmental Management Services Ltd. Edmonton, Alberta Under contract to: DIALOG Edmonton, Alberta Project Number EP 629 January 2016 Spencer Environmental EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of the River Valley Mechanized Access (RVMA) Site Location Study is to detail the social, financial, environmental and institutional constraints that make a location within the North Saskatchewan River Area Redevelopment Plan (Bylaw 7188) boundaries essential. This report also provides a detailed examination of project conformance to the goals, objectives and policies of Bylaw 7188. The proposed project is one of 13 important initiatives within the greater River Valley Alliance’s (RVA) Capital Project announced in January 2013 (RVA 2013). The Capital Project will improve overall public access to the North Saskatchewan River and river valley and add new trails and features to existing infrastructure in what is considered North America’s longest metropolitan park system (RVA 2013). DIALOG previously investigated the feasibility of five potential mechanized access alignments in Louise McKinney Riverfront Park in 2009-2010 (Carlyle and Associates et al. 2010). That site was not studied further because of the subsequent development of the Valley Line LRT alignment through Louise McKinney Riverfront Park. The availability of River Valley Alliance Capital Project funding in 2013 for mechanized access in the river valley permitted the City to consider other locations. In 2014, DIALOG subsequently investigated five potential site locations for mechanized access in the North Saskatchewan River Valley, including four on the north side of the river and one on the south side of the river (DIALOG 2014). The City of Edmonton selected two preferred locations that formed the basis of the previous concept engineering study: 100 Street Access on McDougall Hill on the north side of the river and the 105 Street Access within Queen Elizabeth Park on the south side of the river (DIALOG 2015a). In addition, two separate alignment options, West and East, were proposed for the 100 Street RVMA project area, both of which would have connected 100 Street near the Fairmont Hotel Macdonald at the top-of-bank to existing shared use pathways (SUPs) in the river valley and across the Low Level Bridge (Spencer Environmental 2016). Ultimately, the East alignment was determined to be the preferred option, and on 23 June 2015, City Council approved the East Alignment to proceed. The following provides a brief overview of the social, environmental and institutional constraints that make the project location, within Bylaw 7188 boundaries, essential: Social: The proposed RVMA project will connect downtown Edmonton to the existing river valley SUP system, improving accessibility of the river valley for all Edmontonians and visitors to Edmonton, regardless of age or ability. Development of the proposed RVMA project will enhance recreational opportunities in the Edmonton River Valley and Ravine system for all users; additionally, the proposed project will directly connect downtown Edmonton to existing recreational amenities at Louise McKinney Riverfront Park as well as to the Low Level Bridge, enhancing non-motorized transportation opportunities for recreationalists and commuters on both sides of the river. Guiding principles of alignment selection included following the intent of the River Valley Alliance’s January 2016 River Valley Mechanized Access – Final Site Location Study Page i Spencer Environmental Capital Project, utilizing existing vegetation clearings where possible to minimize disturbance to the natural setting, and incorporating feedback from stakeholders and the public on an ongoing basis. Financial: On 23 January 2013, the City of Edmonton received a total of $72.9- million in grants from the River Valley Alliance (RVA) and the provincial and federal governments. That funding is for specific capital projects described in five initiatives to improve public access to the North Saskatchewan River and connectivity within the river valley. The proposed RVMA is one of the projects included in those initiatives with a budget of $24 million, fully-funded by the River Valley Alliance supported by the provincial and federal governments and the City of Edmonton. City Council approved the RVMA project to proceed for the East Alignment, connecting 100 Street near the Fairmont Hotel MacDonald and the river valley SUP system near the Low Level Bridge on 23 June 2015. Project funding requires that the proposed project be totally completed by July 2017. Environmental: The proposed RVMA project will be largely situated within and immediately adjacent to existing developed areas in downtown Edmonton. Despite those conditions, the proposed project has sought to minimize environmental impacts, and project infrastructure will be designed to ensure protection of slope stability, existing drainage, native vegetation, wildlife movement, nearby aquatic resources as well as river valley visual aesthetics. Specifically, RVMA project alignment selection criteria included potential impacts to natural areas in the North Saskatchewan River Valley, while balancing other concerns such as universal accessibility, constructability, engineering and user safety. Ultimately, the preferred alignment was one that required somewhat more vegetation clearing than the alternatives; however, that alignment also offered improved connectivity to existing SUPs that is expected to enhance user experience and avoids major utilities in the area. The current alignment of the RVMA project was approved by City Council on 23 June 2015. Institutional: The location of the proposed RVMA project represents a balanced approach to river valley development that provides for improved access to the river valley and expanded recreational opportunities that are compatible with existing local private development and consistent with existing City of Edmonton and River Valley Alliance planning documents. The proposed RVMA project will directly tie Edmonton’s downtown into the existing river valley SUP system, thereby maximizing accessibility to the river valley. The proposed RVMA project is consistent with the Ribbon of Green Master Plan (City of Edmonton 1992) and the major goals presented in city planning documents including The Way We Grow: Municipal Development Plan (Bylaw 15100) (City of Edmonton 2010a), The Way We Move: Transportation Master Plan (City of Edmonton January 2016 River Valley Mechanized Access – Final Site Location Study Page ii Spencer Environmental 2009), The Way We Live: Edmonton’s People Plan (City of Edmonton 2010) and The Way We Green: Environmental Strategic Plan (City of Edmonton 2011). This Site Location Study concludes that the location and preliminary design of the RVMA project conform to the goals and applicable objectives and policies of Bylaw 7188. January 2016 River Valley Mechanized Access – Final Site Location Study Page iii Spencer Environmental Table of Contents Chapter Page 1.0 INTRODUCTION................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Project Background/Justification ........................................................................ 1 1.2 Project Overview ................................................................................................ 2 1.2.1 Project Components within Bylaw 7188 Boundaries ..................................... 2 1.2.2 Alternatives Considered .................................................................................. 8 2.0 CONSTRAINTS ANALYSIS ............................................................................ 12 2.1 Overall Constraints Analysis ............................................................................ 12 2.1.1 Social Constraints ......................................................................................... 12 2.1.2 Financial Constraints .................................................................................... 13 2.1.3 Environmental Constraints............................................................................ 13 2.1.4 Institutional Constraints ................................................................................ 14 3.0 CONFORMANCE WITH NSR VALLEY ARP (BYLAW 7188) .................. 15 3.1 Major Goals ...................................................................................................... 15 3.2 Parkland Development Objectives .................................................................... 16 3.2.1 Parkland Development Policies .................................................................... 18 3.3 Environmental Protection Objectives ............................................................... 22 3.3.1 Environmental Protection Policies ................................................................ 23 3.4 Transportation Objectives ................................................................................. 24 3.4.1 Transportation Policies ................................................................................. 24 3.5 Major Facility and Natural Resource Development Objectives ....................... 25 3.5.1 Major Facility and Natural Resource Development Policies ........................ 25 3.6 Agricultural Land Use Objectives ...................................................................