A direct control land use district is being proposed for the Canmore Hotel in order to allow for future development of the vacant part of the site and restoration of the historic building at the same time.
Over the last year, council has issued a letter of intent to designate the Canmore Hotel a historic resource, accepted a sustainability screening report for the rezoning and signed a memorandum of understanding with the owners regarding compensation under the Historic Resources Act.
Now, said development planner Patrick Sorfleet, the process is at the point where a direct control district in the land use bylaw has been proposed.
“It has been a long process to date with the discussions over historic designation and development,” Sorfleet said.
A direct control district in the land use bylaw appoints council as the ultimate development authority and creates a site-specific district that differs from the town centre district in a variety of ways. Sorfleet said permitted and discretionary uses have been altered, setbacks changed and parking requirements altered to reflect the MOU signed by Heritage Property Corporation and the municipality. That agreement put in place arrangements regarding parking requirements as part of the compensation deal for designating the hotel a historic resource.
“The regulations in this district are slightly different,” Sorfleet said. “The architectural regulations are slightly different in this district because the intent is that the architectural regulations for the historic building will be covered under a different bylaw.”
The heritage bylaw is expected to come at the same time as third reading for the land use bylaw change. Council gave that bylaw first reading and scheduled a public hearing for Sept. 8 at 6 p.m. in council chambers.
The Canmore Hotel project involves restoration of the 125-year-old hotel and bar, as well as developing a boutique hotel that complements the historic building on the vacant lot between it and the CIBC bank.
Mayor John Borrowman said he was excited to see the historic designation process advance forward and he looks forward to seeing the project complete.
“I love the design concept and I think it is going to be a great addition to Main Street,” he said.
