Bylaw 11-2012 - To be presented to Council for third reading on January 15th, 2013 

Bylaw 11-2012 proposed for third reading on January 15th, 2013

Previous Updates

Bylaw 11-2012 - Public Hearing (October 17th, 2012; 6pm)

Council provided first reading to Bylaw 11-2012 on September 18th, 2012. A public hearing for this bylaw has been scheduled for October 17th, 2012 at 6pm in Council Chambers at the Civic Centre.

If you have comments you wish to submit for this public hearing, please send them to Cheryl Hyde, the Municipal Clerk at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Comments received prior to noon on the 12th of October will be included in the agenda package for the public hearing. Comments recieved after the 12th but before the public hearing will be provided to Council at the public hearing.

Bylaw 11-2012 Schedule A - The Bow Valley Trail Area Redevelopment Plan (First Reading Version - September 18th, 2012)

Bylaw 11-2012 - The Bow Valley Trail Area Redevelopment Plan is back again!

Bylaw 11-2012 is essentially the same as Bylaw 04-2012. It has been created so as to allow all sitting council members to participate in the discussion and vote on the Area Redevelopment Plan.

This Bylaw will go to Council for first reading on September 18th, 2012. There will also be statutory public hearing scheduled in the future. A copy of the plan to be presented to Council on the 18th can be downloaded on the right hand side of this page.

On May 22nd, 2012 Council voted to postpone consideration of the Bow Valley Trail Area Redevelopment plan until after the by-election had occurred. The intent was to allow the new members of Council to participate in the discussion and vote on the bylaw.

The Municipal Government Act requires that only those Councillors that were present at a public hearing are eligible to discuss or vote on a bylaw. As the new members of Council were not present as Councillors at the April 10th, 2012 public hearing they would not be allowed to vote on the bylaw.

Bylaw 04-2012 was defeated by Council on June 26th, 2012.

Draft Bow Valley Trail Area Redevelopment Plan (May 22nd, 2012)

April Update

A draft of the BVT ARP (Bylaw 04-2012) was presented to Council on March 20th, 2012. Council scheduled a statutory public hearing for Bylaw 04-2012 on April 10th, 2012 at 6pm in Council Chambers. Several community members spoke or submitted comments at this hearing.

Results of Streetscape Design Charrettes (workshops)

Three workshops in early November 2011 addressed the issue of the future appearance of Bow Valley Trail and how the road should function. The workshops produced ideas relating to:

Draft Bow Valley Trail Area Redevelopment Plan (April 10th, 2012)

The design of the central section of Bow Valley Trail between Railway Avenue / Benchlands Trail and 17th Street. The intent here was to create a more urban street, where the buildings may be closer to the street and there is lots of interaction between the buildings and people on Bow Valley Trail. The images are available to the right for download. Please provide any comments on the proposed street design to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Central Section Plan for Bow Valley Trail Image (Download)

The design of the north and south sections of Bow Valley Trail south of Railway Avenue / Benchlands Trail and north of 17th Street. The intent here was to create an environment that is easy to move through and is quite simialr to the current feel of the street. The images are available to the right for download. Please provide any comments on the proposed street design to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

North and South Sections Plan for Bow Valley Trail Image (Download)

A set of proposed Common Directions that would apply regardless of where or when street improvements were planned. Please provide any comments on the Common Directions to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

 Common Directions (Download)

A set pf proposed Short Term Actions that could be undertaken or started in the next 3 - 5 years. This was done with the realization that all of the proposed road plans would be very expensive to construct, and so will not be able to be started in the short term until financing issues have been decided by Council. Please provide any comments on the proposed Short Term Actions to  This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

The following downloads detail the work on Short Term Actions from the charrette:

What we heard from the groups?

Detailed Proposed Short Term Actions

Please feel free to provide any further general or additional comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

Based on the work from the spring workshops and the ARP Reference Materials, a work in progress document has been assembled.  A copy of the work in progress is available for download below.

Work in Progress, June 16th, 2011

During the first series of workshops we heard clearly from the community that the Bow Valley Trail should be 'more street' and 'less highway'. We also heard that wayfinding in the area needs serious improvement.

ARP Reference Materials

Mining the Future: A Vision for Canmore

Municipal Development Plan

Signposts to Sustainability 

Comprehensive Housing Action Plan

Sustainable Economic Development and Tourism Strategy

Land Use Bylaw 09-99

Background Information and Research

Existing Policies Overview

Existing Infrastructure

Existing Density

Parking Study

Commercial Space and Vacancy Summary

Real Estate Sales Summary

Lease Rates and Commercial Sales Summary

Visitor Accomodation Use and Occupancy

Financing and Assessment Issues

What is an Area Redevelopment Plan (ARP)?
An ARP is a statutory planning document that provides strategic direction for the redevelopment of an area. ARPs provide the framework for changes in land use and zoning. In particular the BVT ARP will address:

• Development Policies
• Land Uses
• Streetscape Design
• Pedestrian/Vehicular Movement (Specifically between BVT and TC)
• Gathering/Public Spaces
• Building Volumes/Massing
• Parking
• Public Transit
• Groundwater/Wellhead Protection Measures
• Heliport
• Access to Sites
• Sequence of Redevelopment
• Proposed Replacement or Improvements to Public Roadways, Utilities and other Services
• Requirements for Recreational, School and other Community Facilities
• Site Specific Architectural Designs and Regulations

How will the ARP be developed?
The BVT ARP will be developed under the supervision of a project Steering Committee and in accordance with the processes set out in the project Terms of Reference.

It is anticipated that the draft ARP will be ready for presentation to Council at the end of 2011.

Who will make up the Steering Committee?

Council appointed the BVT ARP Steering Committee on March 15th, 2011. The Steering Committee Members are:

• Todd Kunst (Chair)
• Councillor Joanna McCallum
• Barb Scott
• Doug Churchill
• Andrew Nickerson
• Shawn Biggings
• Alasdair Russell
• Gary Buxton