Windermere ASP Consolidation - City of Edmonton

2.5 Smart Choices (Smart Growth)
The Smart Choices for Developing Our Community –
Recommendations was approved by City Council on
March 23, 2004. These principles incorporate a number of
“smart growth” ideas from the Smart Choice Catalogue of
Ideas that has recently been prepared by the City of
Edmonton. Smart Growth refers to the comprehensive
planning, design and development of communities to
encourage community sense of place, preservation and
enhancement of natural and cultural resources, equitable
distribution of development costs and benefits, an
expanded range of employment, housing and
transportation choices that are fiscally responsible. The
Windermere ASP utilises Smart Growth principles to foster
mixed use developments, contiguous urban development,
the efficient use of infrastructure and services, alternative
transportation modes, and employing environmental
design in building communities. Of the nine ideas
presented in this document, three are relevant to new
suburban development and are applicable to Windermere.
The following Smart Choices approach are supported and
form the underlying structure of the Windermere ASP.
Transit Oriented Development (TOD) encourages the
comprehensive planning, design and development of
pedestrian friendly environments built within easy walking
distance of a transit station. The development concept for
Windermere focuses higher density development around
transit facilities and commercial / employment nodes,
dispersing lower densities progressively outward. The
intent is to encourage a range of land uses that support
affordable housing choices, local employment
opportunities, commercial / retail services and amenities,
and alternative transportation options that are integrated
and mutually self-supporting.
Mixed Use Node / Development encourages the
integration and mix of higher intensity land uses at
strategic transportation focal points (e.g. major roadway
intersections). The framework of the Windermere ASP is
designed to encourage compact development patterns,
sharing of common infrastructure, services and facilities,
effective land use transitioning, and development of local
synergies (e.g. vibrant local economy, social activity,
supportive community). The mixed-use development will
provide a range of affordable housing options, commercial
services and amenities, transportation modes, employment
opportunities, entertainment, culture and attractive urban
settings conducive to the creation of healthy, vibrant and
sustainable urban communities.
Windermere ASP November 2012 Office Consolidation
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