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6.

North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and


the Touch the Water Promenade - Options for
Improvement

Recommendation
That the February 20, 2018, Urban Form and Corporate Strategic report CR_3970,
be received for information.

Previous Council/Committee Action


At the August 23, 2016, City Council meeting, the following motion was passed:

3. That Administration work with the River Valley Alliance to bring forward visions to
improve the North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water
Promenade, to better accommodate the many users, create vistas, access and
gathering spaces, and build a signature promenade experience.

Executive Summary
Administration has developed two high-level visions for a promenade along the north
shore of the North Saskatchewan River Valley. To ensure that any development in the
central river valley fits in with the current context, planning, and programming in the
greater river valley, it is proposed that any concept work for a promenade in the central
river valley be deferred until such time as the 1992 Ribbon of Green has been
updated, and a River Valley - Central Core Activation Plan has been completed.

The North Shore Promenade is proposed along the north shore of the river to the east
of the Walterdale Bridge, as shown in Attachment 1.

Report
The north shore of the North Saskatchewan River, west of the Walterdale Bridge is an
area of significant heritage and visibility to many of Edmonton’s citizens. Located in
proximity to the downtown, Alberta Legislature grounds, University of Alberta, major
recreational facilities, parkland, and several of the densest neighbourhoods in the city,
this area provides significant opportunity to complement the downtown transformation
and connect Edmontonians to the river valley and its amenities.

ROUTING - Urban Planning Committee | DELEGATION - P. Ohm/T. Wyman/J. Meliefste


February 20, 2018 – Urban Form and Corporate Strategic Development CR_3970
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North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water Promenade
- Options for Improvement

The area currently has a shared-use path that sees high levels of use by cyclists,
runners, walkers, inline skaters, dog walkers, and special events, for both recreation
and commuting.

In response to the August 23, 2016, City Council motion, Administration has developed
two high-level visions for a promenade along the North Shore, west of the Walterdale
Bridge, which are shown in Attachment 1. The visions identify opportunities to enhance
the urban form and riverwalk experience through the potential development of
gathering nodes, viewing decks, active transportation corridors, integrated seating
and/or enhanced access points.

The visions are intended to initiate discussion on the future programming of the area
and are not supported by any environmental or engineering feasibility studies, nor has
any public or stakeholder engagement occurred to date. Administration proposes that
further study and planning of more detailed programming for this area be deferred until
such time as a revision to the Ribbon of Green Master Plan and a River Valley -
Central Core Activation Plan are complete in late 2019, subject to funding. These
plans will provide the framework for the successful planning, design and delivery of
river valley related infrastructure projects, and will ensure that any development in this
area fits within the overall vision and context of Edmonton’s central river valley.

Current plans and policies provide direction for planning, environmental review and
development within the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System;
however, these plans are dated and should be revisited to validate whether they reflect
the current growth of the city and downtown transformation.

The Ribbon of Green Concept Plan and Ribbon of Green Master Plan were approved
by City Council in 1990 and 1992, respectively. The Ribbon of Green provided the
planning framework for open space development in the river valley to the year 2000.
This plan emphasized the continuation of an integrated trail system and the
development of natural parks utilizing existing or restored natural features. This plan
directs the restoration of a natural preserve and re-establishment of a viable ecology,
while minimizing any additional development that may be contrary to the parks’
primary uses.

City Council recently approved Open Space Policy C594 and ​Breathe: Edmonton’s
Green Network Strategy ​which provides new strategic direction for the city’s open
space network that supports multifunctionality, recognizes all open spaces as part of a
connected landscape, and values public land as an important resource that must be
considered and planned holistically. ​Breathe​ has encouraged Administration to
examine current river valley planning policies and consider a multifunctional approach

Page 2 of 7 Report: CR_3970


North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water Promenade
- Options for Improvement

to the future vision and development framework of the North Saskatchewan River
Valley and Ravine System.

Administration is currently advancing a Phase I revision of the Ribbon of Green Master


Plan in an effort to respond to and guide development occurring in the southwest and
northeast growth areas of the city. This work will define planning units for the
conservation, preservation and use of the North Saskatchewan River Valley and
ravines in these growth areas; however, the scope does not include analysis within the
central area of the river valley.

There are numerous open space projects at various levels of development underway,
in the central part of the river valley, including the Gallagher Park Master Plan,
Dawson River Valley Park and Kinnaird Ravine Master Plan, Oleskiw Park Master
Plan, Cloverdale Beach (see the November 29, 2017, Citizen Services report
CR_5154 - Cloverdale Beach), Mill Creek Daylighting, Touch the Water Promenade,
Louise McKinney Master Plan Update, Queen Elizabeth Park Master Plan
Implementation, Victoria Golf Course renewal, William Hawrelak Park Capital
Investment Plan, River Crossing, Valley Line LRT Construction, and many trail and
stair replacements. These projects are shown in Attachment 2. Given the growing
demand for access, connectivity and enjoyment of the river valley and river-based
activities, protection and enhancement of the ecological network, and integration of all
ongoing planning and project work, there is a need to initiate a Phase II revision of the
Ribbon of Green Master Plan.

The River Valley Alliance presented a project list to City Council on August 23, 2016,
at which time Council made a motion for Administration to pursue a promenade along
the north shore of the river. This work was not originally identified as part of the River
Valley Alliance’s 2017-2022 Capital Work Plan (see the February 20, 2018, Urban
Form and Corporate Strategic Development report CR_3969 - River Valley Alliance
Project List). In discussions between Administration and the River Valley Alliance
following this motion, the River Valley Alliance has expressed interest in having further
discussions on partnering on a north shore promenade in the future, following
additional planning work in the central core of the river valley. This could be brought
forward for consideration during the 2023-2026 capital budget cycle.

Public Engagement

No public engagement has occurred to date in the development of these visions.

Previous work in this geographic area has included extensive engagement with First
Nations and Métis communities to understand their connection to this area and the

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North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water Promenade
- Options for Improvement

river valley as a whole. No engagement has occurred to date with Indigenous


communities in the development of these visions.

Administration will consult the public and stakeholder groups during any additional
planning work, and engagement with Indigenous communities will be a key part of any
planning work moving forward. The City recognizes the historical and environmental
significance of the river valley and has heard from citizens that there is a need to
protect the river valley and to balance development with cultural heritage and
ecological stewardship.

Administration will conduct public engagement efforts using the principles outlined in
the River Crossing Heritage Interpretive Plan and similar efforts used in the Phase I
revision to the Ribbon of Green Master Plan.

Corporate Outcomes and Performance Management

Corporate Outcome(s):​ Edmontonians are connected to the city in which they live, work and
play.

Outcome(s) Measure(s) Result(s) Target(s)

Efficient and effective service Project Timeliness In progress Q4 2019


delivery - Project management - revision of
practices are effective, Ribbon of Green
consistent and aligned
Project Timeliness In progress Q4 2019
- Completion of
River Valley
Central Core
Activation Plan

Efficient and effective service Environmental Currently there are no Complete all
delivery - sound planning studies are environmental studies or Phase 1
practices to understand the completed to thorough environmental
environmental sensitivities, better understand constraint/feasibility studies required
constraints and opportunities the full impacts analysis completed along by Federal,
within the river valley. and challenges of subject area. Provincial and
initiating a Municipal
development agencies to
project. determine project
limits and
feasibility prior to
advancing
individual projects
(Q4 2019).

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North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water Promenade
- Options for Improvement

Urban Form and Corporate Well-informed, Existing strategic plans Strategic plans
Strategic Development is a integrated are dated and do not (Ribbon of Green,
well-managed department - decision making. provide adequate River Valley -
project management Current, strategic guidance for Central Core
processes are effective and level guidance Administration to be able Activation) are in
encourage logical and provided prior to to proceed with individual place before
informed decision-making. proceeding with initiatives and proposals proceeding with
individual within the river valley. individual projects
projects, to (Q4 2019).
ensure impacts
are understood Projects within the
within the context central river valley
of the greater river are identified and
valley. prioritized in four
year capital
budget (Q2 2018).

Risk Assessment

Risk Risk Likelihood Impact Risk Score Current Potential


Element Description (with current Mitigations Future
mitigations) Mitigations

Environment Environmental 1 3 3 - Low Development of Administration


al damage could a promenade recommends the
result from the would be subject deferral of the
insufficient to environmental development of
understanding studies and more detailed
of the review by visions until such
ecological regulating bodies time as a
impacts of prior to approval comprehensive
proceeding with for construction. study is completed
this work within Scope of these for the central river
the context of studies relative to valley. This would
the greater river the greater result in a more
valley. context of the holistic
river valley may understanding of
be somewhat the environmental
limited, in the context and guide
absence of a the conservation,
holistic and preservation and
up-to-date plan. use for the central
river valley.
This would help to
mitigate as-yet
unidentified
environmental
impacts.

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North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water Promenade
- Options for Improvement

Legal / Insufficient 3 3 9 - Medium Identification that Administration


Regulatory timelines to project will be recommends the
complete subject to review deferral of the
provincial and by regulating development of
federal bodies prior to more detailed
approvals may approval for visions until such
impact project construction. time as a
delivery. comprehensive
study is completed
for the central river
valley. From there,
once projects have
been identified and
prioritized through
the River Valley -
Central Core
Activation Plan,
detailed scoping,
studies and
appropriate
timelines would be
identified for this
project.

Financial Potential loss of 3 3 9 - Medium Identification that Administration


partnership project will be recommends the
funding due to subject to deferral of the
insufficient timelines for development of
timelines to appropriate more detailed
complete due study, visions until such
process for engagement and time as a
planning, review by comprehensive
environmental regulating bodies study is completed
and engineering prior to approval for the central river
studies, design, for valley. From there,
public and construction.This once projects have
stakeholder would be been identified and
engagement identified within prioritized through
and regulatory project timelines the River Valley -
approvals. and limitations on Central Core
potential Activation Plan,
partnership detailed scoping,
funding. studies and
timelines would be
identified for this
project.

Public City appears 4 5 20 - High Administration Administration


Perception uncoordinated recommends the recommends the
in planning and deferral of further deferral of more
prioritization of design work until detailed visions
projects in the a comprehensive until such time as a
central river study for the comprehensive
valley. central river study is completed
valley can be for the central river
completed. valley. From there,
projects would be
identified and
prioritized through
the River Valley -

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North shore west of the Walterdale Bridge and the Touch the Water Promenade
- Options for Improvement

Central Core
Activation Plan.

Public There has been 3 5 15 - High Previous projects Future work in this
Perception / a history of such as River area will build on
Human community Crossing previous
(Activism) activism in this included an engagement
area. extensive processes.
engagement
component.

Attachments
1. Edmonton North Shore Promenade - Vision
2. North Shore Promenade - Surrounding Projects

Others Reviewing this Report

● T. Burge, Chief Financial Officer and Deputy City Manager, Financial and
Corporate Services
● C. Campbell, Deputy City Manager, Communications and Engagement
● D. Jones, Deputy City Manager, City Operations
● A. Laughlin, Deputy City Manager, Integrated Infrastructure Services
● R. Smyth, Deputy City Manager, Citizen Services

Page 7 of 7 Report: CR_3970

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