Housing Action Updates

1. Tourist Homes
   In alignment with the recommendations of the Town’s Livability Task Force, council gave first reading to amendments to the Land Use Bylaw and two Area Redevelopment Plans (Bow Valley Trail and Teepee Town) to remove Tourist Homes as a permitted or discretionary use in several land use districts. This initiative aims to increase the availability of long-term rental housing by limiting short-term tourist home rentals in key areas. A public hearing has been scheduled for March 11, 2025. Learn more at Bylaws Pending Approval: Town of Canmore
   
   
2. Moustache Lands Feasibility Study
   Council approved a new capital project to complete the feasibility study for the development of the moustache lands in the Palliser area. This follows last week's announcement on the planned work to determine what may be possible on the site. The Town was successful in securing grant funding of $189,980 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities (FCM)’s Sustainable Affordable Housing Program, which will fund a large portion of the project.

Steep Creek Updates
Council gave first readings to both the Town of Canmore Municipal Development Plan (MDP) Bylaw Amendment 2024-23 and Land Use Bylaw Amendment (LUB) 2024-24. After the steep creek flood events of 2013, policies and rules were included in the MDP and LUB to protect high-hazard areas of the community from risks associated with these events. Now that the Cougar Creek debris flood retention structure is substantially complete, changes to the MDP and LUB are proposed to acknowledge the relative reduction in flood risk for the Cougar Creek area. A public hearing has been scheduled for March 4, 2025.

Learn more at Bylaws Pending Approval: Town of Canmore

Council Remuneration Policy
Today, Council approved an updated Council Remuneration Policy. The new policy will take effect in October, following the next municipal election. The policy was put together with the recommendations from a public committee. The committee had the following goals: providing a fair and reasonable remuneration for Council members, diminishing barriers so a more diverse and representative pool of candidates can run for Council, and recognizing the complexity, responsibilities, and time commitments associated with the role of an elected official in Canmore.

Some of the main updates include increases to base pay for both Mayor and Council, redistribution of items covered in base pay and per diems and applying RRSP contributions to per diems.

Council also:

1. Established a new Municipal Policing Committee Bylaw.
2. Approved the 2025 Engineering and Construction Design Guidelines, which have been updated to reflect industry best practices and feedback from industry.
3. Gave first reading to Revised Land Use Bylaw Amendment 2024-37 – Palliser Lane Perpetual Affordable Housing Direct Control District and scheduled a public hearing for March 4, 2025.