BANFF – The Town of Banff is currently seeking three public members to join a steering committee to help shape Banff’s new community plan – a social, environmental and economic blueprint for the townsite over the next decade.
Banff residents of all ages interested in serving on the steering committee have until Oct. 28 at noon to submit their applications to the Town of Banff for consideration. The appointment of public members will be made by council.
Town of Banff officials say the 10-member committee’s input, along with broad public consultation, will allow for a planning process that is open and transparent and will ultimately help shape policy and guide future decisions in the Town of Banff.
Darren Enns, the director of planning and development for the Town of Banff, said the municipality had been waiting for Parks Canada’s approval of the 2022 management plan for Banff National Park before commencing work on the overarching review and update of the now 14-year-old community plan.
“We are moving forward with the community plan process now and that will take approximately 12 months,” he said.
“We’re targeting November, December next year to have the municipal side of the process complete.”
A key focus of the updated community plan will set strategic direction in matters relating to social planning, environment and sustainability, mobility and transportation, land use, urban design, culture and heritage, housing and affordability, economic prosperity, tourism, and recreation, trails, and open spaces.
Joining three public members on the committee will be one representative from an environmental organization, one person representing the business and tourism industry, one member from Parks Canada and two council members.
The committee’s membership will be rounded out by Enns and Randall McKay, manager of strategic initiatives and special projects for the Town of Banff.
The committee will meet on an as-needed basis but not more than twice per month. Membership selection will strive to reflect the diversity of the community with varying degrees of experience, knowledge, and expertise in any of the subject areas to be addressed in the plan.
Members of the committee will be responsible for reviewing background materials on a broad range of topic areas to be addressed in the plan, and providing guidance on an inclusive public input plan.
In addition, they will consider issues and priorities for the full range of interests from public consultation, and provide guidance and recommendations for the review and update of the plan based on research and stakeholder input.
McKay said the Banff Community Plan is a Municipal Development Plan (MDP) – a statutory plan prepared by the municipality under the authority of the Municipal Government Act and Banff’s incorporation agreement.
“Within five years of approval of the new Banff National Park of Canada Management Plan, the Town of Banff is also required to table an updated community plan in parliament,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Town of Banff is also developing an overall public input policy for the municipality.
A citizen panel of up to 50 residents will meet Nov. 2 and Nov. 16 to help work on developing the policy, which aims to clarify obligations of the Town of Banff and recognize the value of compiling and considering public input in Town decisions.
The policy will provide residents, business owners and other stakeholders with an understanding of when and how they will be engaged, how their input will be used, and the results of decisions.
