HERE, SUSTAINABILITY IS MUCH MORE THAN A BUZZWORD

As land absorption for development in Sherwood Park is nearing capacity, Strathcona County Government adopted a sustainable urban neighbourhood model last year, incorporating key criteria similar to BuiltGreen™ Canada and LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Canada. These criteria will eventually make up Bylaw 18-2010 (as related to the approved development plan for Salisbury Village).

The following is a comprehensive breakdown of Optima’s 12 standards in relation to Bylaw 18-2010.

1. LAND THEME

The location of this residential development provides the necessary diversity to further the sustainable goals of the
Salisbury Village ASP. The existing commercial developments surrounding this site allow far a variety of both amenities and work options to promote a walkable neighbourhood with a smaller infrastructure footprint.

2. NATURE HABITAT THEME

The pond and park to the south of the site allows public access to a network of nature trails. This promotes the maintenance of vital natural areas interspersed within the urban context and enhances existing habitats. The division between our property and the natural areas will be executed with a permeable fence and similar planting methods that will extend the green space right up to the building face.

3. WATER THEME

Site-appropriate landscaping and low-flow water fixtures mitigate the impact of water needs for the building and site. Hearty trees and shrubs with native grasses are landscaped to maximize the use of rainfall and reduce the need for irrigation. Underground parking has been incorporated beneath the entire building footprint to encourage permeable surfaces as much as possible. Bioswales and a retention pond alleviate the impact on storm sewers by controlling the flow and quality of surface water. An erosion and sediment control plan will also be put into effect during construction to reduce disruption to the surrounding ecosystems.

4. CARBON THEME

The building has been oriented in a E-W axis to maximize the solar orientation (as well as the views) available. Windows will be specified according to their orientation to allow solar gain and thermal performance w here most applicable. To reduce the use of electrical loads, energy efficient lighting and appliances will be installed . As a condition of sales, new residents will be signed as clients of Bullfrog Power to ensure that a minimum 25% of electrical energy used is coming from renewable, wind-powered sources. Mechanical and architectural building systems will be co-designed to comply with insulation and efficient standards expected by the County.

5. TRANSPORT THEME

As earlier mentioned, the proximity to many amenities surrounding the site promotes a walkable neighbourhood. In addition to providing the required parking for resident automobiles, walkable distances to Sherwood Drive and Wye Road bus routes allows for easy access throughout Sherwood Park and into the City of Edmonton. Bicycle parking has been made secure and accessible to residents thereby promoting a number of transportation networks. Site paving and main floor access are designed to not impede the use of wheelchairs, walkers, or otherwise reduced mobility.

6. FOOD THEME

Residents will be informed of and encouraged to become involved in the Salisbury Village community garden to foster a sense of community rather than focusing on the provision of private, on-site garden plots. Organic waste will be separated into two streams – one for oil-year, general pickup and a second specifically suited for use in the community garden.

7. MATERIALS THEME

Durable building materials have been selected for a long-lasting building envelope and incorporate rain-screen systems to mitigate the impact of environmental conditions on the exterior shell. Regional lumber will be used for all framing components while low-emitting adhesives, wood panels, and carpet are selected to provide a healthier interior air-quality.

8. WASTE THEME

To reduce energy loads, the building has been designed to take full advantage of site orientation directed toward passive solar heating . Operable windows will assist with cooling while reasonable insulation levels in walls prevent uncomfortable temperature swings. Balconies have been designed to shade windows during summer months while allowing winter sun to penetrate the south facade. Durable building materials and rain-screen systems reduce the impact on the waste stream by maintaining a long-lasting building envelope . Residents are provided with garbage, co-mingled recycling, and organics sorting in-house to assist in waste management.

9. ECONOMY THEME

To complement the existing commercial surrounding this site, this medium-density residential complex will provide close, walkable housing alternatives to people employed in the area.

10. WELL-BEING THEME

CPTED practices have been incorporated into the design of the site and parkade to avoid potentially uncomfortable, closed-off situations and reduce opportunistic areas of crime. Porosity of the site with the surrounding park area, path systems, and streets enables views from residential units to the surrounding properties. Combining this with the mixture of commercial and residential in the same area encourages a safer, ‘eyes on the street’ neighbourhood by inhabiting Salisbury Village throughout the day and night. Exterior lighting, while adequately illuminating all site features, will be designed with full cutoff to eliminate light trespass and reduce the impact on the night sky. Air quality will be kept at high standards by the use of low-emitting adhesives, wood panels, and carpet in construction alongside an effective, thermally comfortable ventilation system.

11. EQUITY THEME

A variety of residential suite layouts have been designed to accommodate a diverse mix of unit owners. Each of these designs is based on an open-concept for kitchen/living/dining spaces to not limit the different requirements of each owner. An adaptive, flexible plan furthers the ability of the building to change with the needs of the residents and encourage long-lasting community members.

12. CULTURE THEME

Encouraging a mixture of residential and commercial uses in close proximity enables the creation of a walkable community with easy links to public park areas and public transit. This building has been designed to respond to the site and the existing buildings by incorporating design cues that further a sense of cohesiveness and a scale that is related to the users and uses. The interaction inherent with urban density at this scale will spur a sense of community and connections between businesses and residents as well as visitors to the area identifying Salisbury Village as a ‘destination’ in Sherwood Park.