Town of Banff

Growth Management

Strategic Objectives - Stay flexible within the legislated growth cap - Address intensification of commercial floor space - Determine how to allocate remaining allotments

The Land Use Bylaw is the primary implementation tool for federal growth management regulations in the Town of Banff. No new commercial buildings can be constructed in Banff without a commercial development allotment (CDA).

The Bylaw defines the method by which remaining commercial allotments are distributed, and related activity such as regulations that address transferring allotments.

The review team feels that the community should endeavor to protect critical retail services such as grocery stores, and as such we are proposing regulatory amendments as a proactive step.

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"

What does the Build-Out Study say?

• “Address the shortfall of support services to the existing population, visitor and employee base”
• “Protect the existing retail base”
• “Prioritize projects which incorporate local serving retail”

The Commercial Development Allotment Process

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.

As part of the Land Use Bylaw review, the review team is proposing a merit-based scheme to recognize excellence in commercial development. Click here for more information...

Commerical Floor Space Transferability

The ability to transfer commercial floor space from one property to another may be one of the instruments with which capital reinvestment can be encouraged. Transferring of floor space between properties would create a "peer to peer" market for floor space, thereby creating another source for floor space in addition to the Commercial Development Allotment system.

Click here for more information on this proposal...

Administering Our Commercial Landscape

One of the areas the review team would like to improve are the tools we have available for tracking changes of use, intensification, the total inventory of floor space, and the future possibility of being allowed to transfer floor space from one property to another. In January 2010 Council endorsed proceeding with a project to update the Town's commercial floor space inventory in order to effectively manage this valuable resource.

Click here for more information on this project...

Commercial Growth and the CS (Compound) District 

One land use district which has been disproportionately impacted by Growth Management is the CS, or Compoound district. Click here for more information about proposed changes to the CS land use district...