Stay tuned for details regarding 2019 engagement opportunities for the Green Strategy, Natural Area Standards and Urban Forest Management Plan. 

As Saskatoon continues to grow, new infrastructure will be needed and aging infrastructure retrofits will be required that complement conservation of valued natural areas and living assets. By strategically weaving green infrastructure into the urban fabric, the City will be in a position to provide essential municipal services in a way that respects nature, heritage and culture. 

The Green Strategy is structured using a phased approach. 

• Phase I – Baseline Inventory (complete)
• Phase II – Implementation and Action Plan Development (in progress)

WHAT ARE THE NATURAL AREA STANDARDS? ​

• A management document that will provide standards for developers to use to inform the design process and for the City to use during the concept plan review process. 
• A consistent, predictable process for determining how to integrate or address natural areas in our development plans. 

WHY DO WE NEED THE NATURAL AREA STANDARDS? 

• To guide development decisions in places containing natural areas through consistent standards and procedures for the approval of development in, and adjacent to, natural areas. 
• To minimize impactful development on our significant natural areas. 
• To provide designation categories for natural areas within City boundaries and identify levels of management 

Engagement opportunities will be provided to inform the following decisions in development of the Natural Area Standards:

• Define “natural area”;
• Determine appropriate criteria to designate a green space as a Natural Area;
• Develop a process for determining appropriate boundaries and buffers for Natural Areas;
• Develop criteria for compatible uses in Natural Areas;
• Development of natural area categories and standards for development in and adjacent to natural areas based on appropriate levels of management; and
• Develop a process to guide how to apply requirements for avoidance, mitigation and compensation where it is anticipated that development will impact natural areas.

Engagement for this project will take place concurrently with Green Strategy and Urban Forest Management Plan and will be located under the ENGAGE tab at the top of this page.

WHAT IS THE URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN? 

• A management document to guide development adjacent to trees in a consistent and predictable way.
• A process to determine whether to protect or remove trees. 
• A plan for strategic planting in the future to maximize the benefits trees provide. 

WHY DO WE NEED AN URBAN FOREST MANAGEMENT PLAN? 

• To minimize impacts on our changing urban forest due to urban growth, redevelopment in established areas, invasive pests and diseases, weather events, and aging trees. 
• To ensure future planting maximizes the benefits trees provide, we need to classify strategic planting areas, identify appropriate planting requirements, aim for species diversity and ensure the right tree is planted in the right place. 

Engagement opportunities will be provided to inform the following decisions in development of the Urban Forest Management Plan:

• Understand how the community values and interacts (both positively and negatively) with different categories of trees in different situations.
• Determine how the current processes and policies for urban forest management align with community values and interactions.
• Explore opportunities to align Urban Forest Management with community values.

Engagement for this project will take place concurrently with Green Strategy and Natural Area Standards and will be located under the ENGAGE tab at the top of this page.