Town of Banff

Authenticity In Dining

Currently the Land Use Bylaw regulates all eating and drinking establishments in the same manner, whether the use is a coffee shop or a night club; a franchise or an indpendent.
 
As part of the Phase Two proposals, the review team is looking at ways to encourage and support unique visitor experiences in the downtown core. One proposal is to restrict future fast food restaurants in the downtown to the Cascade Plaza food court.

This new approach would apply to all new fast food restaurant applications, and would define a fast-food restaurant as one where table service is not provided by staff. It is the review team's belief that this proposal would encourage unique dining ventures in our highly visible and pedestrian oriented downtown environment, facilitate increased interaction between visitors and locals, and encourage our visitors to stop and linger in our downtown core.

What does our visitor feedback tell us?

• “20% of respondents noted that the impression of being in an authentic mountain community...is not being achieved”
• “1 in 5 visitors agreed that you can not buy products which wouldn’t be available at home”
• “International tourists are less appreciative of the Town of Banff’s aesthetics”

What does the Community Plan say?

• “Promote opportunities to diversify tourism product, providing more balance and stability within the local economy”
• “Provide an appropriate mix of commercial services that meet the long-term needs of visitors and residents”

    What is the vision for our dining experience?


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Do you think restricting fast food will help foster a more favourable and authentic impression of downtown Banff from our visitors? Is the proposed definition (e.g. fast food = restaurants with no table service) clear? Send us your thoughts on this proposal. Do you believe that future fast food restaurants should be restricted to Cascade Plaza's food court? Yes No