Let's see... where to start?
1) Controlling development adjacent to
Big Lake and the Sturgeon River. I am currently reviewing a few area structure plans that would cover about 400 or so acres of uplands to one of the most significant migratory bird breeding gounds in Alberta. The number one issue right now though, is the City's recent approval of a highway bypass through wetlands adjacent to the lake (and, for the record, I had nothing to do with this).
2) Affordable housing is a huge concern here. St. Albert is an upper middle class community with a Council split on affordable housing. Right now the ruling majority are in favor of a 'pay for what you use' mentality, meaning no subsidization for anyone. As Alberta's enabling legislation does not permit such tools such as inclusionary zoning (unlike Ontario and BC), it looks like this City will not be providing any new affordable housing in the next several years (whenever a change of political climate on Council occurs).
3) Sprawl. Edmonton and "country residential" in Sturgeon County are closing in on St. Albert from two sides (which I might add is the densest city in Alberta... and I'm not talking about the IQ of the citizens
).
4) Rapid growth. Over the past five years, the growth rate has been hovering around 2.5% per annum. With only three planners in a town of nearly 60,000, we are busy all the time, and we have not been able to dedicate as much time as we would like to many of the bigger issues (environmental quality, affordable housing, etc.).
5) Residential/Commercial balance. As a bedroom community we have 90% of our land dedicated to residential uses. We just can't attract the businesses, when Edmonton has so much money and incentives to throw their way. It makes for high residential taxes with not much other tax support. The City is now aiming to 'balance' the land uses to a 80/20 split.
