MD OF BIGHORN – Residents of the Municipal District of Bighorn looking to voice their thoughts on the municipality's parking bylaw will soon have a chance.
A public hearing has been set for July 12 at 6 p.m. after administration confirmed to council on Tuesday (June 14) that the parking amendment would apply to the four types of land uses: resort, visitor, extended visitor accommodation and flexible accommodation.
The land use bylaw only requires one stall per accommodation unit and half a stall per employee. However, the amendment – if passed by council – would require one stall per studio or one-bedroom unit. For each subsequent bedroom, the number of stalls needed increases by half a stall. For anything three bedrooms or larger, three stalls are required.
“I think this should be an evening public hearing,” said Lisa Rosvold to administration.
She also asked if there could be the possibility for residents to attend the public hearing virtually, which was confirmed by administration.
The potential amendment was recommended by administration to standardize suitable levels of parking for visitor accommodations across Bighorn.
In April 2022, the Bighorn council requested further research into amending its land use bylaw related to parking requirements in the highway commercial and mixed-use commercial districts. Council instructed administration to conform the applicability of the proposed amendment on those districts.
According to the report, the land use districts that could be impacted are Rafter Six Tourist and Recreation district; Kananaskis Ranch district; the highway commercial districts in Scott Lake, Dead Man’s Flats and Harvie Heights and the Dead Man’s Flats commercial mixed-use district.
The finance and economic development committee reviewed and recommended the draft bylaw on May 24 for it to head to council.
“The proposed parking regulations will standardize suitable levels of parking for visitor accommodation within the MD,” the report stated. “As noted at the April meeting, the market has adjusted to provide parking for multi-room temporary accommodations.”
