Edmonton city councillors forging ahead on river valley plan revamp despite pushback

CBC

a day ago

Edmonton city council will proceed on updating a plan which would direct the future use and management of the North Saskatchewan River Valley despite public concerns raised during a hearing Monday.
From environmental conservation to increased public access to the river valley, several members of the public presented their views before Edmonton city council Monday as the city looks to revamp it's river valley plan for the first time in decades.
Councillors ultimately voted unanimously to move forward with administration's plan.
Ward Sspomitapi Coun. Jo-Anne Wright attempted a motion that would have had administration go back to the drawing board and look at changes to address concerns over language and ensuring environmental protection of the river valley while balancing public access.
That motion failed 4-9 with only Wright, Michael Janz, Erin Rutherford and Andrew Knack voting in favour.
Concern was raised by various speakers over the use of "shall" vs."should" in plan guidelines.
"The proposed bylaw falls short of protecting this treasure," said Ansh Gulati, a law student at the University of Alberta working with the Edmonton River Valley Conservation Coalition.
"We are serious about protection and enforcement. The use of 'should' must be altered or restored to 'shall' to be binding and impose a legal obligation."
Council ultimately expressed concern that making the change would have been too restrictive.
"Shall is, 'you shall do X or you shall not do X, mandatory. It's very prescriptive. There's no flexibility with shall. You need to amend the plan to get some flexibility," said Mayor Amarjeet Sohi.
"Our goal is to protect the river valley, but at the same time, make sure that Edmontonians are able to enjoy this beautiful asset that we have … it's not to exclude from enjoyment."
The city is undertaking this revamp as it has said its approach to planning, engagement and environmental protection has evolved as new challenges like climate change have come into the forefront.
Administration is seeking a variety of changes such as a stronger connection to the city's Ribbon of Green plan, placing limits on intensive open space facilities, utility infrastructure and transportation infrastructure, updating assessment requirements and updating triggers for when a project proposal might require council approval.
Multiple organizations presented their thoughts on the plan Monday at city hall.
"We support the city's efforts to modernize and clarify key elements of its planning framework," said Elise Shillington with BILD Edmonton Metro, a group that represents real estate developers in Edmonton.
"Regular updates to statutory plans are vital to maintaining a planning system that is agile, responsive and capable of supporting both development and redevelopment, also ensures the involving needs of current and future residents, while continuing to safeguard our crown jewel, the Edmonton river valley."
Other groups like the northern chapter of the Canadian Parks and Wilderness Society expressed concerns that the plan does not go far enough to protect environmental concerns.
Since 2005, the city has lost 4.2 per cent of natural areas in the river valley according to Kecia Kerr, executive director with the society.
"It is significant, given that the proposed bylaw will weaken protections, and if our citywide trend continues, natural areas will become extremely rare within the city, outside of the river valley."
Concerns of lack of care and consultation
Kerr said they see three major gaps in the proposed plan that put the river valley at risk: weak discretionary language, a reduction of oversight of development by council and the public, and a lack of clear binding limits on environmental impact.
The proposed plan delegates development decisions to city administration for projects under 10,000 square metres.
"These large thresholds mean that significant developments can move forward without council oversight or public hearing under the current language of the plan", Kerr said.
Some speakers noted that a reduction of 500 square metres would have been a compromise that allows for potential development.
Joe Yurkovich, president of the Edmonton Mountain Bike Alliance, said there needs to be a different standard applied to trails.
"The bylaw needs to be amended so that pockets within administration don't have the discretion or don't feel compelled to apply the strictest standards against the natural surface trail development," Yurkovich said.
Miranda Jimmy, a member of Thunderchild First Nation, said the city is not honouring its commitments to Indigenous people through consultation oversight.
"The [area redevelopment plan] and the bylaws before you today do not meet this threshold of free, prior informed consent, the basis of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples and the TRC principles of reconciliation," Jimmy said.
"The plan also does not include a requirement for Indigenous consent in future decisions made under these updated rules, Indigenous engagement does not equal consultation with rights holders. Consultation does not equal consent."
City administration told council that it undertook Indigenous engagement in each of the four phases of the plan revamp project and reached out to 32 First Nations.