Landscape protection and urban development setbacks : establishing policy recommendations for the city of Red Deer

Abstract

As urban municipalities grow, local governments are tasked with balancing the economic, political, social, and environmental needs of their communities in an effort to develop sustainable urban planning policies. This thesis uses the City of Red Deer as a single case study to examine a municipality's vision of urban sustainability within the context of ecological planning and protection. Concepts of ecosystem goods and services, biodiversity protection, and enhanced water quality were reviewed with research on riparian management, landscape level planning, and ecological protection to provide a lens for reviewing Red Deer's land protection framework. Ultimately, this research provides policy recommendations for development setbacks and land preservation strategies which could greatly contribute to the long-term sustainability of the community. Although this research focuses on the City of Red Deer, the policy recommendations can be applied to similar municipalities and landscapes across the nation.