December

Terms of reference for Three Sisters approved

A terms of reference document for a new area structure plan (ASP) regarding the future of Three Sisters Mountain Village (TSMV) will ensure appropriate environmental policies are created and development on land will not take place until the area known as Site 9 is transferred to a conservation society, council decided, Tuesday (Dec. 18).

Canmore council debated the outline for the ASP presented by Three Sisters receiver PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC), at length on Tuesday.

Since February 2009, TSMV has been in a court-ordered receivership and accumulated approximately $115 million in debt. The Town approved a framework agreement last month, as well as terms of reference for an environmental impact statement (EIS). Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Canmore approves 4.3 per cent tax increase

Canmore taxpayers will see a 4.3 per cent increase in municipal taxes next year after council unanimously passed its operating budget on Tuesday (Dec. 11).

The budget includes a 13 per cent increase for waste and recycling as well as a 12 per cent utility rate increase per year for the next three years, effective the first of January.

Totaling $39.3 million, next year’s budget includes funds for a full year of operations for projects such as Elevation Place, the Roam regional transit service between Banff and Canmore, the 20-year contract with the RCMP and a stand-alone fire rescue service. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Telus makes claim for cell phone tower in Canmore

A temporary cellphone tower located a half block from Lawrence Grassi Middle School could become permanent, however, the company in charge says the town is in “really good shape” concerning the amount of radio frequency energy it emits.

Two weeks ago, representatives from Telus, the cellphone company that owns the tower, conducted tests in and around the school after concerns were raised from local residents and parents regarding potential health affects.

Using specialized equipment involving a measurement box technicians wear around their head that’s connected to a handheld antenna, Telus said it was able to identify the strength of all radio frequencies in town. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Capital budget worth $14.5 million passed

Canmore council has approved a capital budget worth $14.5 million that includes funds for the Legacy Trail, Community Arts Centre and redevelopment of the pool at the Rec Centre once Elevation Place opens next year.

Following debates at 10 budget committee meetings a few weeks ago involving this year’s budget as well as the five-year capital plan, debt levels, reserves and expected grants, council voted unanimously in favour of the budget on Dec. 5.

There are currently 42 individual capital projects slated to take place next year, which involve $6.5 million for solid waste and utilities and another $8 million for other Town operations. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.

Mount Norquay lays out plan for summer operations

A plan to open one of the oldest ski resorts in the Canadian Rockies for the summer is now in the public consultation stage, with opponents voicing concerns about its effect on what they see as dwindling grizzly bear habitat in the Bow Valley.

Last Thursday (Nov. 29), Mount Norquay owners rolled out a long-range plan (LRP) for 2012 that includes giving up 42 per cent of its lands in exchange for opening the resort to summer activities such as via ferrata, which involves a steel cable, ladders and holds fixed to rock for users to climb. Read the full story at the Rocky Mountain Outlook.