Council

Sinkhole repair in Three Sisters gets approval

Canmore Town council has added a new capital project for this year that will permanently remediate a nearly five metre deep sinkhole in Three Sisters Mountain Village.

Late last year, Mayor John Borrowman announced the Town had received a $600,000 grant from the Province to fix the hole, located along a municipal pathway near Dyrgas Gate that formed in May 2010.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday (May 21), members of council voted unanimously to proceed with a capital project to fix the sinkhole, which was the result of an airshaft from Seam No. 4 in the No. 4 mine. The mine was closed in the 1940s.

In a presentation to council, Town manager of engineering services Andy Esarte indicated a significant amount of discussion had taken place regarding liability for potential sinkholes created from developing on undermined lands.

Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council skips first reading of Three Sisters ASP

An area structure plan (ASP) for the remaining 80 per cent of developable land in Canmore has moved past first reading and will go directly to a public hearing following a decision by Town council at a special meeting, Tuesday (April 30).

Council unanimously voted to proceed with a formal public hearing on May 15 instead of first reading of a new ASP for Three Sisters Mountain Village (TSMV) due to a lack of confidence the plan would actually be approved as presented.

A public hearing is held following first reading of any new bylaw, but since the ASP has, according to both administration and councillors, uncertainty surrounding various issues, the hearing will precede first reading in hopes the applicant will make changes before the matter is brought back to council.

Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council increases budget for waste infrastructure

Canmore council has increased its budget for capital projects by $2.27 million, which will be funded from debt, to construct a regional waste transfer station and a municipal materials recycling facility at the Town’s wastewater treatment plant.

In addition to the extra funds for the two pieces of waste management infrastructure, the increased budget will also cover a new baler worth $70,000, for a total of $300,000 for recycling equipment.

Andreas Comeau, the Town’s manager of pubic works, made a presentation for council to approve the budget increase on Tuesday (April 24) at a special meeting that lasted over five hours due to a lengthy list of agenda items and discussion among councillors regarding the increase.

Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council to weigh fencing, corridor on Three Sisters

Canmore Town council will face a tough decision next week as it evaluates a Sustainable Screening Report (SSR) concerning proposed development on land within Three Sisters Mountain Village (TSMV).

If approved, the development could, according to estimates, increase the town’s population by 10,000 people.

Over the last week and a half some residents, especially those already living in TSMV, have voiced their opposition to the proposal after the receiver in charge, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), laid out the draft plan for development.

Last Wednesday (Feb. 27), more than 90 residents gathered at St. Michael’s Hall in Canmore for a presentation from local conservation groups regarding what some local experts feel is a major issue with the proposed development having a significant impact on the wildlife corridor adjacent to TSMV. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Canmore council turns down Stewart Creek development

After a lengthy debate between members of the public and councillors regarding a proposed development on Stewart Creek Golf Course, Canmore Town council did not approve a required Sustainability Screening Report (SSR) application due to the site’s location adjacent to a wildlife corridor and its lack of providing an overall benefit to the town.

Canmore council held a special meeting on Tuesday (Feb. 12), where it heard presentations from the applicant as well as members from the public concerning the plan to develop 20 cabins, or houses, near the golf clubhouse.

According to the agenda package given to council before the SSR hearing, the proposed land use development is in accordance with the existing Three Sisters Mountain Village Stewart Creek Area Structure Plan (ASP) from 2004. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Crowd gathers for chain store public hearing in Banff

A packed council chambers in Banff played host to a public hearing last Thursday (Jan. 31) concerning one of the more heated topics affecting the small mountain town – whether quotas should be put in place to regulate the number of chain stores.

Banff council passed first reading of proposed bylaw 314 this past September, which would create a quota system to control corporate or formula-based chain stores and restaurants in town.

As part of first reading, council was required to hold a formal public hearing before the issue is brought back at the next meeting on Feb. 25. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council opts for temporary skating oval for 2014 games

Council has elected to go ahead with a plan to build a temporary 400-metre outdoor skating oval in anticipation of next winter’s Alberta Winter Games, which is being co-hosted by Banff and Canmore.

Last month, organizers of the 2014 Games made a presentation to council requesting a permanent skating oval be put in place at Millennium Park to host long track speed skating events and have year-round potential for indoor soccer and tennis.

The intent of the proposal was to create a lasting Games legacy that would also increase accessible skating opportunities, economic activity associated with competitions and increase sports tourism and sport development. Read the fully story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Town approves new arts centre

The Town of Canmore has taken the opportunity to create a vibrant centre for the arts that will fulfill a long held need and engage the whole community.

On Tuesday (Nov. 6), the community arts centre advisory committee made its final push for council to adopt a plan to redevelop the library, which will move to Elevation Place next year, for a space that will showcase, provide programs and act as a central hub for artists in the community.

“Canmore holds a true grassroots movement. Artists and volunteer groups have invested time and effort to grow their art. The dedication of those people has brought the Canmore arts scene to where it is today,” said Dea Fischer, chair of the committee during her presentation to council. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Council not regulating public smoking

Canmore council confirmed its support for the Provincial Tobacco Reduction Act, which prohibits smoking inside public buildings/vehicles, workplaces and within five metres of doorways and windows, but it will not proceed with creating more smoke-free outdoor spaces at this time.

At its regular meeting on Tuesday (Oct. 16), council voted 5–2 in favour of upholding the existing Smoking Control Bylaw with respect to non-regulation of smoking in outdoor spaces.

A presentation delivered at the meeting by manager of protective services, Greg Burt, indicated the Town recently received a request from Action on Smoking and Health to increase the number of smoke-free outdoor spaces. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Photo radar to continue in Canmore

Automated traffic enforcement, more commonly known as photo radar, will continue to exist in the Town of Canmore to curb speeders and improve the overall safety of the roads for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians.

Town council debated the topic at length on Tuesday (Oct. 2) and eventually passed a motion to initiate a request for proposal (RFP) to renew photo radar services for the next three years.

According to a report submitted to council by the Town’s manager of protective services, Greg Burt, Global Traffic Group Ltd. has provided Canmore with 24 hours of photo radar services per week since March, 2007. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.