Town of Banff

Phase 2 Land Use Bylaw

July 12, 2010


Town kicks off Land Use Bylaw Review Phase 2 and seeks input on proposed recommendations

Banff, AB – The Town of Banff has just kicked off the second phase of its Land Use Bylaw Review – a process that will allow the Town to diversify its tourism offering and respond to the feedback and recommendations of visitors and residents.
Phase Two of the Land Use Bylaw Review examines issues related to Banff’s commercial land use districts and lays out a host of recommendations to be considered by the public. In this phase, the Town will look at everything from where fast food outlets should be located to how to protect zoning for essential services like grocery stores and gas stations. They are also considering making changes to affect business signage and the aesthetics of commercial buildings to ensure they are high quality and contributing to a unique national park experience for guests.
The recommendations being proposed by the Town represent the direction of the Banff Community Plan – a plan written by the community and approved by Parks Canada late in 2009.
“Visitors who come here have a great expectation about how Banff should feel and what it should look like,” says Senior Town Planner, Darren Enns. “We understand that visitors to Banff should always have an experience that is befitting of our role as a UNESCO world heritage site and Canada’s iconic mountain community. Our intent with the Review is to craft an updated Bylaw to preserve this place for all time, for all Canadians.”
Reviewing the Land Use Bylaw is one of the ways the Town of Banff is working to ensure the municipality is focused on the right priorities and regulatory decisions. The process will also identify and create new opportunities for Banff’s local businesses.
Enns says there are three questions that form the foundation of the Phase 2 review:

• How do our commercial land uses contribute to our identity as an authentic mountain community?
• What steps can we take to ensure our visitors leave with a positive view of the appearance of our commercial areas?
• Can revisions to the Land Use Bylaw create a simpler, more effective system that works within legislated growth caps?

“Ultimately, we are just trying to get people talking, so we can hear what they have to say and update our Bylaw accordingly,” says Enns. “Input will give us the chance to take existing regulation and adapt it to meet the current and future needs of our marketplace.”
In this phase of the review, which will last all summer, the Town is seeking the input of local businesses, residents and visitors. For more information on the Land Use Bylaw Review and to comment visit: www.banff.ca/ourlanduse.  The Town will review this bylaw in four phases, Phase One of the Land Use Bylaw Review was approved by Parks Canada on May 12th, 2010.
Town of Banff Planning and Development manages Banff's growth and development in a way that is consistent with the town's purposes and the community's vision of Banff as a balanced, model national park community as set out in the Banff Community Plan and Land Use Bylaw.
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For Information:
Janice Carson
Acting Communications Manager, Town of Banff
403.762.1227