Proposal to revamp Banff's old train station, surrounding area, inciting debate

A redevelopment plan that would transform Banff's west entrance is stirring up debate among some community members.

Banff's town council saw dozens of area residents publicly endorse or slam the Railway Lands Redevelopment Plan at a public hearing on Wednesday, and through written public submissions. 

The plan, first proposed years ago, looks to restore Banff's historic train station, and add two intercept parking lots near the station on either side of the rail line.

It also pitches a pedestrian-friendly plaza with restaurants and shops. 

Included in the plan are visions for a gondola running from the redevelopment area site to the Mt. Norquay Ski Resort, and a passenger rail connecting Banff to Calgary. 

Several environmental advocacy groups criticized the proposal at Wednesday's public hearing.

"The gravel bed floodplains at the bottom of the Bow Valley are immeasurably important to wildlife," said Canmore's Adam Linnard, from the Yellowstone to Yukon Conservation Initiative.

"A relatively small parcel of land between a railroad and a major highway does indeed play a really important role in maintaining wildlife populations between the greater Yellowstone ecosystem and the Arctic Circle."

Linnard, along with other conservationists, raised concerns about the potential for habitat and ecological connectivity loss by adding parking north of the train line. 

Opponents of the proposal also spoke about the possible environmental impacts of a gondola that would travel outside town boundaries through the national park.  

"At all times, for every purpose, this is a national park," said conservationist and Banff resident Harvey Locke. 

"Everybody in the valley knows that there was a big debate … Time to put that to bed. Do not approve [the gondola]."

The applicant, Liricon Capital Ltd., also owns the Mt. Norquay Ski Resort. It's leasing 13 hectares for the proposed redevelopment along the railway from the CPR, according to the town. 

Jonathan Welsh, owner of Discover Banff Tours, spoke in favour of the project at the public hearing, citing traffic congestion. 

"We need mass transit solutions, we need to move people more efficiently," he said. "Personally, I can sit in my backyard and I can see traffic on Spray Avenue."

Mark Walker, who also has ties to the tourism sector, was among the other residents who voiced support for the redevelopment project. 

"While the train station is still a beautiful building … I still do think that some of the surrounding lands are a little bit on the ugly side. The southwest side of the lot is just a big gravel parking lot."

"With the train station being one of the first things visitors come across … It's a shame to see it in the condition that it's [been] in ever since I've come here." 

Parks Canada continues to shut down gondola proposal

If the town council votes to approve the area development plan bylaw, the plan must then be endorsed by Parks Canada.

And Parks Canada has repeatedly shot down calls for a Mt. Norquay gondola. 

Banff National Park representatives have penned letters to the town, year after year, which indicate the redevelopment plan does not meet the conditions to proceed to the next step of their review process.

On March 15, ahead of the public hearing, Banff National Park's superintendent Salman Rasheed wrote a letter to Banff's town manager indicating the plan still "does not fully conform with applicable federal statutes and regulations."

"A gondola from the [redevelopment site] to the Mount Norquay ski area has been assessed twice and found not to be feasible due to non-conformance with key park policy and legislation," he said. 

The area redevelopment plan is expected to be back in front of the town council for a second reading on April 22.