Banff's pedestrian zone to be dismantled after Labour Day

Following a public vote earlier this month, Banff town council has passed a bylaw rescinding their original decision to have an annual pedestrian zone downtown on Banff Avenue during the summer months.

As a result, the zone will now be dismantled starting Sept. 3, a week later than what Banff administration had originally recommended to council. 

On Monday evening, during a meeting in which council had to pass the bylaw, councillor Kaylee Ram proposed an amendment delaying the dismantling until after the Labour Day long weekend.

"I think this represents a fair and balanced approach that honours the democratic decision while also allowing our community a brief period to transition and adapt. It is my belief that this compromise will help us move forward with mutual respect and understanding," said Ram.

Council passed the amendment five votes to two. Banff Mayor Corrie DiManno was one of the two opposed to it, even though she says she supports the pedestrian zone.

"When the petition was declared valid and Council made the decision to hold a vote of the electorate, I said I would embrace and respect the outcome of the democratic process," DiManno said.

"I can't in good conscience support this timeline. I gave my word to folks who were planning to vote against it that I would support removing it as fast as possible."

The car-free zone was originally scheduled to be in place annually, from the May long weekend to Thanksgiving weekend. It was first introduced during the pandemic as a way to cope with restrictions at the time.

Once dismantling the zone commences, it is expected to take two days to fully reopen the road to vehicles.

Voting results of the community plebiscite earlier in August were 1,328 against the pedestrian zone and 1,194 in favour.

Municipal regulations state that council had up to 30 days from the Aug. 12 plebiscite to give second and third readings to the bylaw. Which means this bylaw could have passed as late as September 11. Administration was then required to remove the pedestrian zone as soon as reasonably possible.

Council ultimately decided to hold the vote on Monday and decided that Sept. 3 was that reasonable date.

Next steps for businesses, municipal crews

As of then, businesses with patio licences for the zone will have to remove their dining areas from the road. Council says those businesses will receive prorated refunds for those licences because of the early pedestrian zone closure.

The estimated amount the city will refund to all of those businesses combined is $43,500 or less, according to Banff's Town Manager Kelly Gibson. Town administration has been directed by council to calculate the exact reimbursement amount by Sept. 23.

"It doesn't matter when you set up your patio or took it down, it's prorated based on the amount of time that the pedestrian zone operated as opposed to when it was anticipated to be operated," said Gibson.

The town says the next step is for municipal infrastructure to be removed from the road, including planters, bollards and bicycle racks. Traffic lights on Banff Avenue will also have to be re-activated and re-incorporated into the town's broader traffic light system.

Town administration says contractors were already scheduled to begin the work this week, but it will be rescheduled to begin the day after Labour Day.

Now that the bylaw is approved, municipal rules state that council cannot revisit the idea of a pedestrian zone within three years. Between three and 10 years from now, council can discuss a new pedestrian zone only if there is public engagement, consultation or hearings. After 10 years, public input is not required.