Housing Action Updates

1. 100 Palliser Lane

Council approved Land Use Bylaw Amendment 2023-36 Palliser Lane Perpetual Affordable Housing DC District. This is the next step for Canmore Community Housing's new buildings in the area, which will provide critically needed affordable housing in the community. Learn more about the development at Projects | CANMORE COMMUNITY HOUSING (canmorehousing.ca)

2. Canmore Community Housing Loan Guarantee

Council give first reading to Canmore Community Housing Stewart Creek Rise Construction Loan Guarantee Bylaw 2024-12. The bylaw will guarantee a maximum of 35% or not more than $3,375,000 of the construction financing being taken by Canmore Community Housing (CCH) for the purposes of constructing 18 Vital Homes at 205 Stewart Creek Rise.

3. Housing Action Plan - Next Steps

Council allocated $550,000 in additional funding (from the General Capital Reserve) to the Housing Action Plan project. This funding will allow administration to continue building out the programs the Livability Task Force recommended, which include:

1. Limiting the growth of Tourist Homes
2. Incentivizing full-time/long-term occupancy of homes
3. Incentivizing purpose-built rental accommodation

Learn more at Housing Action: Town of Canmore

2024 Property Tax Rates

Council approved this year's Property Tax Rate Bylaw, which it is required to do annually. The Town of Canmore collects only enough property taxes to satisfy the annual approved budget requirements.

Council approved a 7.6% tax increase (net of growth) with the 2024 budget amendments. As the overall assessment value has increased year over year, the municipal tax rate decreased to bring in that amount of revenue. The median single-family homeowner with a change in assessed value from $1,211,000 to $1,383,000 will see an increase in municipal taxes of approximately $29.13 per month. If a property value has increased or decreased more or less than this, there will be a corresponding effect on taxes. We continue to fall in the middle range of comparator municipalities when looking at tax rates.

Want to learn more about the annual budget? Visit Budget: Town of Canmore

Paid Parking - Peak Season Weekday Rate Reduction

Paid parking rates in the Town Centre are set to increase to $4/hour for the peak season starting May 15. Council had a discussion on whether rates should be kept at $3/hour from Monday - Thursday during the peak season for 2024 and decided to move in that direction, which will take some time to implement. For more information on parking, visit Parking: Town of Canmore

Wildfire Preparedness

Council heard an update on emergency management activities regarding wildfire. The update included information on why wildfire is the top-rated hazard identified in the Town's emergency management risk assessment, mitigation work being done, as well as preparedness info undertaken by the Town of Canmore and what community members can do.

Some key info to note:

1. We are working on a new Community Preparedness Guide, it will be available later in May at Emergency Preparedness: Town of Canmore

2. Mayor Krausert is hosting a Virtual Town Hall on Emergency Preparedness on May 14, you can find the link to join at Mayor's Virtual Town Hall - Wildfire Preparedness - May 14 at 6:30 p.m.: News - Town of Canmore

Council also:

1. Approved funding for a portion of a housing unit that Roam has purchased for staff housing.
2. Approved the submission of an application to the 2024 Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta Community Fireguard program.
3. Directed Mayor Krausert to sign a Friendship Agreement with Sedona, AZ.
4. Directed Mayor Krausert to provide feedback to the Province on Bill 18 and Bill 20.