The City is divided by several natural and man-made barriers. The North Saskatchewan River divides the City into a northern part which is largely forested with some scattered residential, recreational, agricultural and industrial uses, and a southern part containing most of the developed area. North-south traffic is concentrated at a highway bridge.

The part of the City to the south of the river is bisected from east to west by a barrier consisting of an escarpment about fifty to seventy feet in height with railway tracks and yards along the foot, and from north to south by Provincial Highway No. 2. While these barriers present problems relating to traffic movements, they also define several distinct sectors of the City: East Flat, West Flat, East Hill and West Hill.

The current Policy Plan outlines policies on general development, local area plans, Residential, Commercial, industrial, parks and recreation land se as well as policies regarding the servicing and sale of city lands, utilities, transportation, urban renewal and redevelopment, airport and contract zoning.

• The neighbourhood concept of urban design encourages residential expansion areas to be large enough to provide sufficient population to support an elementary school. Residential areas are to be developed in discrete neighbourhood units, each being defined by arterial streets. The interior street system is designed to slow traffic down. Each neighbourhood unit has single and multiple family housing, schools, commercial and community facilities, and park space. With the decrease in family size, neighbourhood size will have to increase in order to provide a sufficient population base to support an elementary school. East Flat, Crescent Heights and Carlton Park are all examples of the neighbourhood concept. The West Hill Master Plan incorporates this idea. 
  
  
• The Central Business District (downtown) functions as the dominant retail, financial, professional and personal service centre in Prince Albert. Regional shopping centres are only permitted in or near the Central Business District.
  
  
• Future industrial development areas are located with respect to the cost of servicing, accessibility from main transportation routes, and the avoidance of conflicting land uses.
  
  
• A comprehensive parks and recreation system for all age groups and members of the community is provided.
  
  
• This City plays an active role in the acquisition and development of land for any suitable purposes and uses.
  
  
• A hierarchical street network facilitates the orderly movement of traffic through and within the City.