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Banff Train Station Development
South Side of Railway:
New Parking Lot
Liricon Capital Limited has completed construction on a parking lot on lands at the Banff Train Station. The lot opened on August 31, 2019.
A Development Permit was provided on March 14, 2018, to develop a lot with 496 passenger vehicle stalls, 24 bus parking stalls, and 20 RV stalls.
North Side of Railway: Proposed Redevelopment
Liricon Capital presented Town council with a proposed development of land around the Banff Train Station to add a 2,000 stall visitor parking lot on the north side of the train tracks and develop a gondola to connect to Mt. Norquay. The proposal also encourages council to implement a resident-permit parking pass system to reduce visitor vehicles in the townsite. Liricon holds a lease on the CP Rail land at the train station, including about 20 acres on the north side of the tracks. Liricon also owns the Mount Norquay resort.
The proposed gondola that crosses the highway and connects to the Mt. Norquay resort would require approval from Parks Canada after extensive environmental assessment. Liricon proposes closing the road up to Mt. Norquay, if a gondola is approved. In addition, Liricon proposes providing the town with a 2,000 stall intercept parking lot, rent free, for 30 years, on train station lands. The concept would have all day visitors park in the large lot and hotel guests park only in hotel lots. For the proposal to succeed, Liricon proposes the Town create a system that requires all visitors to park in the station parking lot, leaving other townsite parking for residents.
March 25, 2019, presentation to Town council:
Landscaping & Planting
Area Redevelopment Plan Required
Before proceeding with significant development, an Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP) will be established for the train station lands, to set out what type of businesses and activities should be allowed for the lands.
Public consultation will be a key component of creating the ARP. Liricon Capital will require further public consultation in 2019 on detailed elements of the ARP before it comes to Council for review.
On February 11, 2019, council endorsed the Railway Lands Area Redevelopment Plan Terms of Reference (PDF) that will form the basis of the ARP.
The Municipal Government Act allows for a municipality to formalize land use policy for an area within its jurisdiction through the adoption of an ARP as a municipal bylaw. The ARP is intended to provide a land use planning framework to guide future redevelopment by:
- describing the objectives of the plan and how they are to be achieved;
- establishing land uses and development standards for the redevelopment area;
- preserving or improving land and buildings in the area;
- rehabilitating buildings in the area;
- removing buildings from the area;
- constructing or replacing buildings in the area;
- establishing, improving or relocating roads, public utilities or other services in the area;
- facilitating any other development in the area; and
- any other proposals that council considers necessary.