Second-floor office space in a commercial building in Banff’s industrial compound is being turned into residential housing.
Last month, the Municipal Planning Commission approved Tarchuk Building Supplies Ltd.’s application for a change of use from ‘contractor services’ to ‘apartment housing’ at 120 Eagle Crescent.
That means the company can turn 1,200 square feet of commercial office space on the second storey into a three-bedroom apartment.
“As long time members of this community, we are experiencing first-hand the effects of the undersupply of housing,” wrote Byron Tarchuk in a letter to MPC.
Apartment housing is a discretionary use in the industrial compound, also known as the Commercial Services (CS) land use district.
The second storey space was originally built as additional office space for two main floor bays, previously held by tenants such as Banff Airporter and White Mountain Adventures.
The three-bedroom apartment will be completely separate from the main floor, with its own private entrance and individually controlled in-slab heat.
Banff’s planning and development department recommended approval of the application.
“There is an identified need to increase the supply and mix of housing units to meet the housing shortfall in the community that this proposal will clearly satisfy,” said Darren Enns, the Town’s senior planner.
