Council Clips – November 1, 2022
Two Updates on TSMV
In August, the Town of Canmore received a Court Order to purchase or re-zone the “Staircase Lands” as Future Development District. The Staircase Lands are a smaller parcel of land privately owned by Three Sisters Mountain Village Properties Ltd. (TSMVPL), located along Three Sisters Drive, between Peaks Drive and the access road to Quarry Lake. The order applies to the upper portion closest to the Quarry Lake access road currently zoned Natural Park District. TSMVPL has declined the Town of Canmore’s offer to purchase the upper triangle of the Staircase Lands for the purpose of implementing the above court decision. Citing high costs to expropriate the land, Council instead directed administration to bring a Land Use Bylaw amendment for first reading by the end of November to redesignate the land. If a public hearing is required, it will be held by March 2023. For details see H-6 of today’s agenda package https://canmore.ca/documents/5255-2022-11-01-council-agenda-regular
Council also heard an update on two of the court proceedings surrounding the Area Structure Plans (ASPs) for Three Sisters Village and Smith Creek. We received permission to appeal the Land and Property Rights Tribunal (LPRT) Decisions to the Court of Appeal of Alberta. However, there is a separate court action, known as an order of “mandamus,” by TSMVPL seeking an order to require Council to adopt the ASPs as ordered by the LPRT. These are two separate court proceedings running concurrently. For details and a see I-1 of today’s agenda package https://canmore.ca/documents/5255-2022-11-01-council-agenda-regular and visit Three Sisters Mountain Village Area Structure Plan Applications
Paid Parking Monthly Passes
Council approved the implementation of a non-resident Town Centre employee paid parking monthly pass option for the off-peak season only. The program is anticipated to be available in 2023. Monthly paid parking passes for residents are now available. For details, visit Paid Parking Program In addition, there are 350 free parking stalls within a 3-10 minute walk to downtown.
Commercial Food Waste
A mandatory commercial food waste program will be in place by Oct. 1, 2023. Food waste makes up at least 1/3 of the waste sent to landfill by commercial and institutional sectors and currently only 40 customers representing 36% of relevant business participate in the program. More efforts must be taken to increase the amount of food waste being diverted from landfill. More details will be available in April 2023, in the meantime, visit Commercial Food Waste Collection to learn how to participate today.
Council also:
- answered questions previously-submitted from the public regarding the Bow River West Pathway Improvements between the Rundle Drive Bow River bridge and Homesteads Van Horne. While there are some residents opposed to this project, this project was approved to improve an important connection from Three Sisters into the Town Centre that can be maintained year-round to achieve fundamental environmental and transportation goals. For details visit https://canmore.ca/projects/transportation-projects/west-bow-river-pathway-improvements
- approved the Scout Hall as a rental option for the Homelessness Society of the Bow Valley to use as a potential location for an emergency overnight shelter from Dec. 1, 2022, to March 15, 2023.
- extended the timelines for the applicant of the development at 800 3rd Avenue to respond to Council’s direction to no later than June 2023. For details on the project, visit https://canmore.ca/municipal-services/residents-development-planning/current-planning-applications/800-3-ave
- directed administration to create a Town Centre Grant Program to begin in 2023 funded by the Paid Parking Reserve with the annual amount determined as part of the budget process.
- approved a new 2022 capital project to create Emergency Response Plans for Extreme Heat and Wildfire Smoke for up to $80,000, to be funded from the Municipal Climate Change Action Centre Climate Resilience Capacity Building Program.
- amended the Property Tax Policy to change the Municipal and Vital Homes tax rates of the tourist homes (rental option) so that they are calculated the same as the non-residential class municipal mill rate.
- amended the Land Transaction Policy to enable a more efficient acquisition of small parcels for approved municipal infrastructure projects and recognize the process for tax-recovery proceedings under the MGA.
- appointed two new clerks to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB) and a new General Chair to the Assessment Review Board.
