Town of Banff

Commercial Development Allotments - Merit Based Review

While most Commercial Development Allotments (CDAs) have been disbursed, a limited amount remains to be allocated. Also, other CDA’s are pending approval and may be built or returned to the Town for reallocation. The review team believes that the time has come to revamp the system with which future allotments are distributed in response to new policy direction in the Banff Community Plan.

What does the Community Plan say?

• "Establish commercial land use policies and development regulations to ensure Banff will continue to prosper"
• "Mantain a growth management strategy for commercial development that provides for a maximum annual growth rate of 1.5 per cent"
• "Commercial development will occur within the legislated commercial growth cap"
• "Encourage capital reinvestment in existing commercial space"
• "Showcase Banff as a leader in environmental practices and hospitality"

What feedback has the business community (Banff Summit) provided?

• Provide a mechanism if possible to deal with smaller allocations
• Merit criteria should consider a methodology for ranking identifiable community benefit and visitor benefit as part of selection process
• Merit based review of all applications for commercial use development allotments would ensure that only the highest quality proposals would be approved
• Merit based review of all applications would ensure that the goals and objectives of the Banff Community Plan and commercial build out study are fulfilled
• Decisions on what projects should be selected for approval must be decided upon a board or jury (e.g. Municipal Planning Commission)
• Limit time frame to proceed with development
• Further study is required to determine who wants to proceed with development and needs a commercial use development allotment.

The review team believes that the current system, which allocates floor space using a lottery, does not do an adequate job of leveraging community goals and objectives. For this reason, the review team is recommending a transition to a system which requires applicants to illustrate how new commercial development will help implement the Banff Community Plan.

Using CDAs to implement the Community Plan

The review team is recommending that approval of CDA applications be based on criteria as follows:

• Quality of architecture, urban design and streetscape
• Quality  of landscape architecture, site design and pedestrian amenities
• Impact on public infrastructure and servicing (i.e. water, sewage, stormwater management, roads & garbage collection)
• Environmental performance and “green building” practices under an accredited regulatory system
• Achievement of the goals/objectives Banff Community Plan and Banff National Park Management Plan
• How does the proposed development enhance Banff as an authentic mountain community?
• Commitment to provide alternative transportation methods for staff and users
• Is there a significant retail component to the development?
• What are the identifiable community benefits of the development?
• What are the identifiable visitor benefits of the development?
• Timing and commencement of construction within 12 months?

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