Landscaping and Grading

This part outlines general regulations that apply to all development in St. Albert.

3.97 Application

Sections 3.98 through 3.102 apply to all Districts under this Bylaw.

3.98 General Landscaping Regulations

1. Landscaping Landscaping means preserving, enhancing, or incorporating vegetative and other materials in a development, and includes combining new or existing vegetative materials with architectural elements, existing site features, or other development features – including fences or walls. shall not be permitted if, in the opinion of the Development Authority Development Authority has the same meaning as set out in the MGA., it would obstruct traffic sight lines either on the site or on a public roadway Public Roadway means a road as defined in section 616 of the MGA and does not include a private roadway or highway..
2. Unless otherwise required by a development agreement or by the Development Authority, landscaping of a site subject to a Development Permit shall be completed within two years of approval of the Development Permit.
3. The Development Authority may require additional landscaping or fencing Fence means a vertical physical barrier constructed to provide visual screening or to enclose a lot or site. between:
   1. The exterior wall of any habitable room Habitable Room means a bedroom, dining room, family room, or living room. and the closest edge of a private roadway Private Roadway means a vehicle thoroughfare created for the purpose of vehicular access and circulation. It may include common property pursuant to the Condominium Property Act, RSA 2000, c. C-22, or be part of a lot, subject to a mutual access agreement. Private roadways include drive aisles. or parking space; and
   2. The property line Property Line means a line of record bounding a lot that divides one lot from another lot, a public roadway, or any other public space. and the closest edge of a private roadway or parking space.

3.99 Blank Wall

1. For a Non-Residential District Non-Residential District includes a Commercial District, Industrial District, Special District, and any non-residential component of a Mixed-Use District. or non-residential use, or for a dwelling (apartment) Dwelling (Apartment) means a building containing three or more principal dwelling units with a common entrance from the exterior., dwelling unit above a non-residential use Dwelling Unit Above a Non-Residential Use means a dwelling unit, located in a mixed-use building, which is located above any non-residential use., supportive living accommodation Supportive Living Accommodation means a development, in a multiple-dwelling or sleeping-unit form, that provides residents with access to on-site professional care and daily living support, and is recognized, authorized, licensed, or certified by a public authority. (above 13.00 m 42.65 ft. in height), or Transitional accommodation Transitional Accommodation means a development, in a multiple-dwelling or sleeping-unit form, that provides residents with temporary accommodation and access to individualized programs and services. This does not include group homes. (above 13.00 m 42.65 ft. in height), any development that has a blank wall facing a park Park means land that is intended to be used by the public for active and passive recreation, or general enjoyment., natural area Natural Area means land or water, identified as environmentally sensitive, that requires protection and stewardship. Examples include wetlands, watercourses, ravines, forests, meadows, grasslands, and riparian areas., or public roadway Public Roadway means a road as defined in section 616 of the MGA and does not include a private roadway or highway. (except a lane Lane means an alley as defined in the Traffic Safety Act, RSA 2000, c.T-6.), must be landscaped in accordance with the following:
   1. If deciduous trees are planted, they must be planted along the blank wall at regular intervals, and if coniferous trees are planted, they must be planted in clusters of three;
   2. The trees required under section (a) must be a minimum of 6.00 m 19.65 ft. in height at maturity; and
   3. Shrubs may be planted between the trees, provided they reach a minimum height of 2.00 m 6.56 ft. at maturity.

3.100 Perimeter Landscaping

1. Subject to section 3.10 ‘Corner Lots - Traffic Sight Lines,’ a development located in the MID (Area C), NHC, TCC, BP1, BP2, IND, ICS, ICC (areas A, B, and C), RCC, MDR, HDR, MU1, MU2, or PPI Districts that adjoins a public roadway Public Roadway means a road as defined in section 616 of the MGA and does not include a private roadway or highway. (except a lane Lane means an alley as defined in the Traffic Safety Act, RSA 2000, c.T-6.) must be landscaped in accordance with the following:
   1. There must be a landscaped area Landscaped Area means that portion of a site which is required to be landscaped. at least 3.50 m 11.48 ft. wide around the perimeter of the private lot adjacent to the public roadway;
   2. If deciduous trees are planted, they must be planted at regular intervals, and if coniferous trees are planted, they must be planted in clusters of three;
   3. Trees must be located a minimum of 2.00 m 6.56 ft. from the property line; and
   4. Trees must be a minimum of 6.00 m 19.65 ft. in height at maturity.
2. A Residential District Residential District includes the LDR, SLR, LLR, FBR, MDR, HDR, MID (areas A and B), and ICC (Area A) Districts. or residential use located adjacent to a Major Roadway (Schedule B) must have a berm Berm means an elongated mound of earth projecting above the adjoining average finished grade, designed to provide screening or noise attenuation within a development or between adjoining developments. or fencing Fence means a vertical physical barrier constructed to provide visual screening or to enclose a lot or site., or both, to the satisfaction of the Development Authority, in consultation with Engineering Services.
   1. Notwithstanding section (2), a berm and fencing do not apply to the Midtown (MID) District.
3. For the berm under section (2), planting requirements shall be determined by the Development Authority, taking into consideration site characteristics and this Bylaw.

3.101 Landscaped Buffer

1. A landscape buffer Landscape Buffer means a landscaped area with dense landscaping, intended to separate and screen adjacent differing land uses.:
   1. Must include a mix of deciduous trees and coniferous trees comprised of at least 60% coniferous trees, unless otherwise determined by the Development Authority in consultation with Engineering Services;
   2. Must include trees that, in the opinion of the Development Authority in consultation with Engineering Services, would be sufficient to screen Screening means the concealment of a development by a fence, wall, berm, landscaping, or combination thereof. Such screening is intended to mitigate any visual nuisance of the development. the proposed use or District from the adjacent lot;
   3. Must have trees that are a minimum of 6.00 m 19.65 ft. in height at maturity; and
   4. May, at the discretion of the Development Authority, include shrubs in addition to trees in the landscape buffer, provided that the shrubs have a minimum height at maturity of 2.00 m 6.56 ft..
2. In a Non-Residential District Non-Residential District includes a Commercial District, Industrial District, Special District, and any non-residential component of a Mixed-Use District., a landscape buffer Landscape Buffer means a landscaped area with dense landscaping, intended to separate and screen adjacent differing land uses. must be provided when adjacent to a Residential District, park Park means land that is intended to be used by the public for active and passive recreation, or general enjoyment., natural area Natural Area means land or water, identified as environmentally sensitive, that requires protection and stewardship. Examples include wetlands, watercourses, ravines, forests, meadows, grasslands, and riparian areas., or public utility Public Utility means a system or works used to provide one or more of the following for public consumption, benefit, convenience, or use:
   
   1. Water or steam; 2. Sewage disposal; 3. Telecommunications; 4. Irrigation; 5. Drainage; 6. Fuel; 7. Electric power; 8. Heat; 9. Waste management; or 10. Residential and commercial street lighting;
   
   and includes the thing that is provided for public consumption, benefit, convenience, or use. lot. The minimum landscape buffer width is specified for each District below:

3. A landscape buffer Landscape Buffer means a landscaped area with dense landscaping, intended to separate and screen adjacent differing land uses. shall be provided for a dwelling (apartment) Dwelling (Apartment) means a building containing three or more principal dwelling units with a common entrance from the exterior., dwelling unit above a non-residential use Dwelling Unit Above a Non-Residential Use means a dwelling unit, located in a mixed-use building, which is located above any non-residential use. (when over 13.00 m 42.65 ft. in height), supportive living accommodation Supportive Living Accommodation means a development, in a multiple-dwelling or sleeping-unit form, that provides residents with access to on-site professional care and daily living support, and is recognized, authorized, licensed, or certified by a public authority. (when over 13.00 m 42.65 ft. in height), transitional accommodation Transitional Accommodation means a development, in a multiple-dwelling or sleeping-unit form, that provides residents with temporary accommodation and access to individualized programs and services. This does not include group homes. (when over 13.00 m 42.65 ft. in height), or dwelling (townhouse-complex) Dwelling (Townhouse-Complex) means a development comprised of one or more buildings, each containing three or more dwelling units, all on a lot, where each unit has a separate, direct entrance from the exterior to grade.  No dwelling (townhouse-complex) shall have less than five dwelling units total. This use may also include stacked townhousing, or a development of a mixed form, including townhousing incorporated with a dwelling (apartment) or dwelling unit above a non-residential use.  , when adjacent to a lot with a:
   1. Dwelling (single-detached) Dwelling (Single-Detached) means a building comprised of one dwelling unit on a site separated by open space from any development on an adjoining site. This does not include a dwelling (manufactured home).;
   2. Dwelling (semi-detached) Dwelling (Semi-Detached) means a single building containing two side-by-side dwelling units, each with its own title and direct connection to finished grade, and separated from each other by a party wall extending from foundation to roof, which is designed and constructed as two dwellings at the time of initial construction of the building. This use does not include dwelling (duplex).;
   3. Dwelling (duplex) Dwelling (Duplex) means a single building on a single lot containing two dwelling units, each with a separate direct entrance from the exterior and one or more habitable rooms above finished grade. This use does not include dwelling (semi-detached).;
   4. Dwelling (townhouse-single) Dwelling (Townhouse-Single) means a building comprised of three or more dwelling units, where each dwelling unit is on its own lot, and each unit has a separate, direct entrance from the exterior to grade.; or
   5. Dwelling (townhouse-plex) Dwelling (Townhouse-Plex) means a single building constructed in a low-density residential district, containing three to four dwelling units all on a lot, where each unit has a separate, direct entrance from the exterior to grade..
4. The minimum landscape buffer widths for the uses listed in section (3) are specified below:

3.102 Trees

1. Trees required for a landscaped area Landscaped Area means that portion of a site which is required to be landscaped. must meet the following standards:
   1. Deciduous trees must have a minimum calliper width of 0.06 m 0.20 ft. at the time of planting;
   2. Coniferous trees must be a minimum height of 2.40 m 7.87 ft. at the time of planting;
   3. If a tree does not survive the required maintenance period, the Applicant for the Development Permit must replace it with a tree in accordance with sections (a) or (b);
   4. Trees must be of a species suitable for the specific application, site conditions, and hardiness zone;
   5. Where a landscaped area is required adjacent to a City boulevard, the tree species and planting must complement the City boulevard trees, as required by the Development Authority; and
   6. Where, at the time of development, the area between the front property line Property Line means a line of record bounding a lot that divides one lot from another lot, a public roadway, or any other public space. and the curb and/or the curb and sidewalk is not landscaped, this area shall be landscaped to City standards City Standards means a City document, including a bylaw, municipal engineering standard, public participation standard, Neighbourhood Plan, Concept Plan, or Council policy, that specifies how development is to be designed or completed..
2. Section (1) does not apply to a development involving a dwelling (single-detached) Dwelling (Single-Detached) means a building comprised of one dwelling unit on a site separated by open space from any development on an adjoining site. This does not include a dwelling (manufactured home)., dwelling (semi-detached) Dwelling (Semi-Detached) means a single building containing two side-by-side dwelling units, each with its own title and direct connection to finished grade, and separated from each other by a party wall extending from foundation to roof, which is designed and constructed as two dwellings at the time of initial construction of the building. This use does not include dwelling (duplex)., dwelling (duplex) Dwelling (Duplex) means a single building on a single lot containing two dwelling units, each with a separate direct entrance from the exterior and one or more habitable rooms above finished grade. This use does not include dwelling (semi-detached)., dwelling (townhouse-single) Dwelling (Townhouse-Single) means a building comprised of three or more dwelling units, where each dwelling unit is on its own lot, and each unit has a separate, direct entrance from the exterior to grade., or a dwelling (townhouse-plex) Dwelling (Townhouse-Plex) means a single building constructed in a low-density residential district, containing three to four dwelling units all on a lot, where each unit has a separate, direct entrance from the exterior to grade..
3. In an Established Neighbourhood (see Schedule C) where infill development Infill Development means the process of developing vacant or underused sites, or redeveloping existing or underused structures. is proposed, the development shall provide a minimum of two trees.
   1. Notwithstanding section (3), shrubs may be substituted for required trees, at the discretion of the Development Authority in consultation with Engineering Services.