Banff politicians plan to discuss increased enforcement of Banff's bed and breakfast operations as well as potentially lowering the existing B&B quota. At a council meeting Monday (Nov.
Banff politicians plan to discuss increased enforcement of Banff's bed and breakfast operations as well as potentially lowering the existing B&B quota.
At a council meeting Monday (Nov. 13), council indicated to administration it wants a discussion at service review on the potential of changing the B&B cap, which now sits at 65, and ways to actively enforce existing businesses abusing licences.
Town officials say the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) has been having robust discussions on a host of B&B issues, including revisiting the cap and the changing face of B&B operations.
They say the initial concept of a bed and breakfast operation as a mom and pop or small cottage business where owners would rent out a few rooms is turning into a big business industry.
“What we've discovered is much more of a corporate juggernaut, where almost the entire home becomes dedicated to the B&B. A five bedroom house has four dedicated rooms to the B&B,” said Darren Enns, the Town's development services manager.
“It's a B&B industry and so people are seeing properties maxed out and the question has become are they still accessory to the residential use or are they becoming small hotels?”
Banff's bed and breakfast quota is set at 65 town-wide. There's a maximum number allowed in each land use district where B&Bs are discretionary uses. Currently, there are 44 operating, leaving room for 21 more to open.
Enns said the issue of housing has also come up as part of the B&B discussion.
“MPC has said why are we approving new bed and breakfasts, which displace residents in a town that has a critical housing shortage?” he said.
“You're increasing visitation and B&Bs are bringing in more guests and you're also displacing residential capacity of the town for workers who serve the visitors.”
Another issue that has surfaced is a number of approved B&B operations were found to have listed more bedrooms available for nightly rentals than approved by MPC.
Councillor Ted Christensen, who sat on MPC before the October election, said he wants to see more enforcement of B&Bs that violate their permits and licences.
“We have B&Bs licenced for two rooms and then we find out it ends up to be four and they're upsetting neighbours,” said Christensen, who brought the issue forward Monday for further discussion at service review. “We need more enforcement and discussion over penalities.”
