BANFF – Banff’s mayor and council may take some heat over a move to explore the use of warming devices on outdoor patios in the downtown pedestrian zone.
Current municipal policy prohibits outdoor heaters at sidewalk restaurants and patios, however council voted 5-2 to explore amending the sidewalk seating policy to allow for heating devices.
Town of Banff administration recommends against propane heaters, fearing their use flies in the face of the municipality’s environmental and climate change action agenda.
“I think that it’s really important that we actually walk the walk,” said Darren Enns, the director of planning and development for the Town of Banff.
“We’ve been working hard to make sure our environmental commitments aren’t just a policy statement that resides in the background, but is something that we affect through day-to-day operational design.”
Council has ambitious climate action targets to reduce community-wide greenhouses gas emissions to 30 per cent below 2005 levels by 2030.
While the policy currently prohibits heaters, it was relaxed during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic as businesses relied on sidewalk seating in colder months when health restrictions limited indoor eating capacity.
The planning department suggested options such as patio design and orientation, electric blankets and seat cushions are more appropriate methods of providing warmth on an outdoor patio in the public realm.
Councillor Chip Olver was quick to note her support to look at heating options is not necessarily a vote for propane heaters.
“I want to state I would have a hard time in favour of propane, but I don’t know what else might be out there as a possibility,” she said.
“I am willing to take a look at the list and hear what might be available, and I’m assuming it can be as simple as a fleece blanket.”
Councillors Ted Christensen and Hugh Pettigrew outright opposed even taking a look at heating options.
“I can’t support this motion for the environmental considerations,” said Coun. Pettigrew. “I think this is not the right thing for our town to pursue.”
Coun. Barb Pelham said she was struggling with this issue, noting she realizes it goes against the municipality’s own environmental policy.
But she said she had spoken with some restaurant operators who had concerns over using electric heating blankets or cushions.
“Just even the idea of blankets is a concern; imagine chicken wings, goopy sauce, wipe, wipe and then sharing it with the next person. You can’t wash an electric blanket, you can’t sanitize it,” she said.
“I get the reluctance to approve heaters, however, I find it difficult. I don’t really support the personal heating blankets, I’d really rather see good heaters.”
Coun. Pelham also pointed to the Town of Banff’s own outdoor gas fire pit on Bear Street.
“It’s hard to say no to restaurant operators when we’ve put in a gas fireplace on Bear Street, so I am quite conflicted with us saying, ‘you can’t do that, but we can do it’,” she said.
Enns said he agreed there is room for improvement with the Bear Street fire pit, but stressed one of the differentiating factors is a common public amenity versus a specific amenity for private operators.
“In our minds, those are different things – one is being provided to the public as a public good as opposed to, let’s say, a marketing incentive,” he said.
Mayor Corrie DiManno said she was also conflicted by the discussion because of environmental considerations, but wanted to help businesses in the pedestrian zone have a successful patio season.
“If it’s all about trying to animate the space, you want to make sure that those patios aren’t empty, that you have people sitting there and having a device is going to help keep them there,” she said.
“I feel like this could be a way to look at some of what those alternative ways of heating those patio spaces could be … that doesn’t mean I am going to be supportive if it’s propane,” she added.
“But certainly I’m interested in exploring what it could look like to help with the success of our patio season through all sorts of wild mountain weather.”
Enns said the planning department would bring back a range of options for council’s consideration.
“We would walk you through what those are, whether they’re infrared, or wood burning or natural gas or propane or whatever it is,” he said.
