Angelo Mancuso spoke to council as a delegation, requesting Policy C122 be changed to allow fourplex housing the option of applying for reduced parking. Policy C122 allows apartment complex developers to apply for reduced parking provided other requirements are met. A monitoring program on Policy C122 is currently underway and will be compiled into a report to council in the fall. Council made a motion to consider Mancuso’s request when the monitoring report is presented.
Second and third reading were given to Bylaw 359, a Land Use Bylaw amendment to change the CA district percentage of gross floor area for accessory uses in service stations. Second reading had been postponed from the June 27 meeting to allow options for spot zoning. Council voted that convenience retail stores and eating and drinking establishments shall not exceed 10% of the gross floor area of a service station building or buildings on a site, except for sites in the 600 Block of Banff Avenue which may contain up to 70% of the gross floor area of a service station building or buildings on a site. Husky Oil Limited had requested the change prior to redeveloping the gas station on Banff Ave.
Council approved the Festival and Special Events Policy C5001 on a one-year trial basis. At the end of the trial, administration will report back on the policy, including the number of events in town, the number of applications approved/refused, business licence fees paid and community feedback. Administration will also return to council with an amendment to the business licence bylaw outlining options for business licence fees for festivals and special events. The policy regulates the definition of a special event, food and product sourcing for events, frequency of events, business licence requirements, and approval of festivals and events.
Council approved several initiatives to extend the Legacy Trail into the townsite. Council voted to build a permanent two-way dedicated greenway from the Legacy Trail east to the crosswalk at Marmot Crescent; to provide shared street bike markings in both the northbound and southbound direction from Marmot to Cave Ave.; and reduce the maximum vehicle speed on Banff Ave. from 40km/h to 30km/h for cyclist and pedestrian safety. Work on these initiatives will begin this year. The No Year Identified section of the capital budget was amended to include a one-way cycling greenway on both sides of Banff Avenue. The project proposes reducing the centre median width while keeping existing lanes of traffic and parking for vehicles, at a cost of $6 million. The project will be brought back to council during the 2017 capital budget deliberations.
Council received the draft Long Term Transportation Study as information and directed administration to publish the document and seek public feedback. The document contains a number of options, from intercept lots, road bypasses, aerial transit, and conventional transit. It can be viewed at banff.ca/transportationplan.
Council gave three readings to Bylaw 304, fire department bylaw amendment No. 3. The bylaw was last reviewed in 2007 and has been updated to reflect the current activities of the department.
Council approved, in principle, the Town of Banff program for Canada 150 celebration and directed administration to transfer $25,400 from the budget stabilization reserve to the destination events budget to purchase banners and fund the New Year’s Eve Family Fun celebration. Administration will return to council at service review with a proposed budget contingent on funding from the federal government. The Town’s program includes pageantry, a Canada 150 garden, a public art installation, a neighborhood block party kit, Commonwealth Walkway, New Year’s Eve Family Fun celebration, and Canada 150 themes for Canada Day.
Council approved an operating budget amendment of $20,000 for an external review of the Town’s employee benefits plan to be funded from the WCB Refund operating reserve. A full review of the benefits plan components would give administration some clarity on what the package should look like before it goes out to market.
Policy C111, accessory dwellings, and Bylaw 366, chief administrative officer and designated officer bylaw, were postponed until the August 22 meeting due to time constraints.