Housing Action
As our community's number one issue, housing was the theme at today's council meeting.
Council gave first reading to Palliser Trail Area Structure Plan Bylaw 2023-22 and scheduled a public hearing for October 3, 2023. The Palliser Area represents one of our biggest opportunities to address the housing crisis. To read the plan, visit Bylaws Pending Approval: Town of Canmore
Council debated the hot button issue of employee housing in industrial districts and decided that employee housing is not an appropriate use for these areas. While allowing employee housing in these areas may have been one short-term solution to the housing crisis, Council was concerned that the long-term effects of losing industrial space in the future would become another challenging issue for the community.
Council also approved a new Terms of Reference for a Livability Tax Policy Task Force, they will appoint members on September 19. Learn more about Canmore's housing and the actions we are taking at Housing Action: Town of Canmore
Cougar Creek Long-Term Mitigation Project Funding
Council approved a budget funding source amendment for the Cougar Creek Long-Term Mitigation capital project in the amount of $8,300,000 from future grant funding to reserves to bridge a gap in awarded grant funding. Securing this remaining funding will allow for the completion of critical project elements and will result in the efficient and timely completion of the project in 2024 – a full year in advance of prior schedules. Administration will continue to pursue other grant funding to minimize reserve expenditures and will also bring recommendations forward as part of the 2024 budget amendment process to cancel or delay $8,300,000 in future or carry forward capital projects. For details about the project, visit Construction: Town of Canmore
Council also:
- Approved amendments to maps in the Silvertip Area Structure Plan.
- Approved a Land Use Bylaw Amendment at Stewart Creek Rise, allowing Canmore Community Housing to move forward with development of affordable housing.
- Approved a Land Use Bylaw Amendment to provide clarity on what type of development permit applications are referred to Canmore Planning Commission.
- Approved a new Bylaw Enforcement Officer Bylaw, which contained a number of administrative updates from the previous version.