Council defeats area redevelopment plan

In an effort to include two new councillors in the debate and decision on a redevelopment plan for one of Canmore’s main thoroughfares council has defeated the bylaw at first reading.

The Bow Valley Trail Area Redevelopment Plan was in front of council Tuesday (June 26) for first reading with a newly elected mayor and two new councillors.

Council had been previously informed that only those present at all public hearings on the bylaw would be able to vote for first, second or third reading.

Mayor John Borrowman, having been a councillor and at the April 10 public hearing, would still be able to vote on it but Vi Sandford and Sean Krausert would not.

As a result council voted to defeat the bylaw with only Coun. Jim Ridley opposing the move.

Borrowman said he agreed with councillors Joanna McCallum, Hans Helder and Gordie Miskow in defeating the bylaw.

He said he didn’t think it was appropriate for a less than a full council to make the decision on something that would have an impact on the community for such a long period of time.

“Still the discussion was around what is the best way to put a long term plan like Bow Valley Trail ARP through the process,” he said. “It was felt it was important to have seven members looking and voting on it and the only way to do that was defeat first reading and start the process again.”

Borrowman recognized it may be frustrating for the planning department to have to bring the plan back from the beginning but changes can be incorporated into it before it reaches council’s agenda again.

He said the main nuisance is that citizens and groups will have to resubmit comments at a new public hearing.

Administration will return with a new bylaw in the fall to begin the process again.

The overarching planning document sets out the way the entire length of Bow Valley Trail is to be redeveloped into the future and was the result of two years of work involving the planning department, businesses, property owners and Canmore residents at a series of workshops and charettes.