FAQs

This project will create an integrated planning and regulatory framework for the North Saskatchewan River Valley and Ravine System (the “River Valley”) to ensure that it remains a vibrant and ecologically resilient green network as the city grows. There are two streams of work within this project:

• Completing the Ribbon of Green Plan

• Modernizing the North Saskatchewan River Valley Area Redevelopment Plan, Bylaw 7188 (“River Valley ARP”)

The Ribbon of Green is our highest-level strategic plan for the River Valley.

It was initially developed in the early 1990s to guide appropriate public use and enjoyment of the River Valley and to protect ecologically sensitive areas.

The River Valley ARP was adopted in 1985 and is the City’s main tool for regulating development within the River Valley. It guides the City in evaluating proposed River Valley projects.

The main goal of the River Valley ARP is to ensure the protection of the river valley and ravine system over the long term.

Yes - the first part of the renewal of the Ribbon of Green plan took place from 2017-2020 and was called the Ribbon of Green SW+NE.

That project: 

• updated the vision, guiding principles and policy framework for the River Valley as a whole.

• developed direction for activity nodes, ecological protection and trail development for the southwest and northeast parts of the system.

Due to the restrictions on Council meetings in place due to the COVID pandemic, there was no opportunity to present the plan at Urban Planning Committee. As a result, the Ribbon of Green SW+NE was advanced to Council by memo in July 2020, and now forms part of the City Administration's guiding policies for the River Valley.

The Ribbon of Green SW+NE represents an interim step, and will ultimately be incorporated into the final Ribbon of Green Plan once the next phase of renewal is complete.