Landscape Design

Walking trails thread through the natural swaths of Public Reserve that traverse Assiniboine Landing. However, the Public Reserve also provides shelter, habitat and safe passage for many wildlife species. One of the primary objectives for the landscaping of your yard is to blend the division between the parkland and your home site. This blending provides critical connections of diverse habitat that support the natural processes and wildlife of the area, and make a more healthy, natural neighbourhood for all.

Each lot will have three areas of consideration for landscape design:

1. the Building Footprint and Driveway

This area is defined as the location of your home and driveway on the lot.

2. the Manicured Yard

This is the tended yard between your home and the Natural Border around its perimeter. The Manicured Yard area will include lawns, decks, pools and any other improvements that will need regular care and maintenance.

3. Natural Border

The perimeter of your property will be planted with native grasses, trees and shrubs. The intent is to create an extension of the natural condition of the adjacent riverbank and public reserve where everything grows freely without the regular maintenance associated with the Manicured Yard. (If you have to mow it or trim it, it belongs within the “manicured zone”, not in your Natural Border). If you wish, you can also create pathways and secluded sitting places within this Naturalized Area.

The Natural Border of the property is defined as:

The perimeter of your property will be planted with native grasses, trees and shrubs.

  • first 10 feet of front yard plus the boulevard,

  • at least five feet in from your property line on each side, and

  • at least 80 to 90 feet of the back yard for River Lots, and at least 10 to 30 feet of the back yard for Park Lots.

Homeowners will be required to provide a detailed landscaping plan indicating their plans for the above areas of consideration.

Special River Conditions

In this natural neighbourhood, trees are respected and the riverbank forest must, in large part, be maintained and preserved. Therefore, any trimming for framing of views or removal of riverbank trees is subject to the approval of the Developer and it's Consultant.

Development within the Riverbank Zone, (at least 80 to 90 feet from the rear property line), may also be subject to the approval of the Department of Fisheries and Oceans Canada, the R.M. of Headingley, the Developer and/or the Assiniboine Landing Homeowners' Association

Fencing

Fences for the purposes of privacy, protecting children and pets, or the enclosure of pools and other property can be erected within the Manicured Yard area. The Natural Border between properties is intended to serve as a beautiful, ‘living fence’ of native trees and shrubs, that will provide an additional measure of privacy and enable wildlife to move along the rear of yards. Therefore:

  • no fencing will be allowed within 20 feet of the rear property line of interior lots and within 80 feet of the rear property line of river lots, in order to encourage the expansion of the adjacent forest and grasslands and allow the sharing of the peripheral yard with wildlife. Fences will not be approved within existing forest areas.
  • subject to the above, fencing within the Natural Border will be restricted to side yards only using open fence designs such as chain-link or low visibility wrought iron, steel or aluminium with native plant materials on both sides.
  • bollards, cairns or other property markers are suggested to establish yard limits. Perimeter fencing on the front property line is not permitted. Any ornamental fencing within the front yard must be approved by the Assiniboine Landing Design Consultant or by the Homeowners’ Association.
  • All fencing not described above will be subject to the approval of the Assiniboine Landing Design Consultant, (and/or the Homeowners’ Association).

Building Setbacks

  • Front yard setbacks shall be a minimum of 40 feet, maximum 55 feet.
  • Side yard setbacks shall be a minimum of 15 feet.
  • Park Lots will have a minimum rear yard setback of 40 feet.
  • River Lots will have a minimum rear yard setback of 80 feet.
  • Maximum total site coverage shall not exceed 40%.
  • Maximum building height shall not exceed 35.10 feet or 2.5 storeys.