BANFF - The Day Care Society of Banff has dropped its appeal against a park-and-ride lot at the train station.
BANFF - The Day Care Society of Banff has dropped its appeal against a park-and-ride lot at the train station.
The developers of the 493-stall intercept parking lot, Jan and Adam Waterous, personally gave the day care an undisclosed cash donation, while their personal holding company Liricon Capital will pave the lot from the get-go instead of leaving it as a gravel surface.
The Day Care Society, which voiced concerns that more traffic will lead to an increased chance of sex offenders walking by the daycare, as well as hazards to children's health from vehicle pollution, dropped the appeal on May 9.
"Both parties have reached a mutual agreement that would allow the Day Care Society of Banff to discontinue its appeal," wrote Christopher Wong, the lawyer for the day care in a document to the Town of Banff.
Specifically, the day care wanted a larger buffer of at least 20 metres, additional fencing, security cameras around the facility and playground, and removal of the pedestrian path between the day care and Mount Edith House to Moose Street.
They also sought upgraded one-way access in the front playground and upgraded key fob entry systems to include back gate fob access. In addition, they want an air conditioner so they can close windows year-round to deal with pollution.
Jan Waterous said she was pleased they reached an agreement with the day care.
"Adam and I agreed to give a cash donation to the day care to do with whatever they choose to do with," she said.
"We did that as a reflection that our children used that day care many, many, many years ago."
In addition, Jan said the lot will be paved at the time of construction, noting at this stage of the game, however, the lot won't be ready in time for this summer and will be paved next spring.
"What we agreed to do to abate some of the concerns was to pave the entire lot upon construction. What we learned from MPC (Municipal Planning Commission) was paving was a bigger issue than we anticipated," she said.
"We didn't want to build a white elephant - the parking lot - where no one comes. We thought let's do it in gravel and see how used it is, but we discovered a number of different groups had concerns with that."
Waterous said she hopes the community can get behind the project.
"We think this will begin to, not solve, the traffic and parking issues and get people on foot and into shuttles as much as possible," she said.
In approving the lot in mid-March, MPC imposed a series conditions, including a 1.8-metre fence built around the perimeter of the childcare centre. MPC has also recommended council consider installing security cameras at the facility.
Liricon Capital initially proposed developing an intercept parking lot for 620 vehicles, 24 buses and 20 RVs. The RV stalls are within a distinct footprint adjacent to Railway Avenue.
Banff's planning and development department recommended a reduction to 516 stalls to allow for more landscaping that would act as a bigger buffer zone between the parking lot and homes in the area.
MPC reduced the stall count even further to allow for more buffering along Squirrel Street, specifically for RCMP staff residences located closest to the lot, bringing the total number of parking stalls down to 493.
"I am happy that a resolution to the matter has been reached by the respective parties in advance of the Development Appeal Board hearing," said Randall McKay, director of planning and development for the Town of Banff.
