Enterprise is hoping to relocate its downtown satellite car rental service to Banff Caribou Lodge.
A change of use application to make way for the rent-a-car business at Banff Caribou Lodge was expected to be before Banff’s Municipal Planning Commission Wednesday (Jan. 13), but the results of that meeting could not be reported by the Outlook’s deadline.
The main issue centres on potential parking problems on public streets and in surrounding residential neighnourhoods, but officials with Banff Caribou Properties say they don’t believe it will be a problem.
Chris Thorburn, the company’s director of operations, said there will be five dedicated parking stalls at the hotel and another nine spots at the Inns of Banff half a block away, as well as a 24-hour key drop off area and valet parking available to guests.
“Enterprise operates its business with an approach of servicing their customers promptly and efficiently with vehicle rentals,” he said. “It would not be in their interest to have vehicles parked for extended periods of time.”
Thorburn said there’s capacity within Caribou Lodge for the small rental fleet, noting 35 per cent of its hotel guests between May and September travel by bus when vehicle rental services are busiest.
“Vehicle rental services are a common amenity within hotels,” he said. “It’s a good fit and a great service we can offer our guests.”
The Banff operation of Enterprise is a satellite location of their Canmore business based on Bow Valley Trail.
In Banff, vehicle rental services are available at the Banff Springs Hotel where Hertz operates and at Brewster Mountain Lodge where Budget rent-a-car has a location.
The Town of Banff’s planning and development is in support of the change of use, but is recommending additional conditions to limit the potential for parking problems on surrounding public roads and neighbourhoods.
Darren Enns, Banff’s senior planner, said one of the conditions is to have Caribou Properties make available a licence plate registry for any vehicles associated with pick-ups in Banff.
“This is comparable to the land use bylaw regulations which address parking at B&Bs, where B&B operators are required to maintain a vehicle licence plate registry to assist with enforcement,” he said.
Enns said another condition is establishing a notification requirement to vehicle renters regarding parking, again, similar to regulations for B&Bs.
“Administration is recommending a clause requiring the property owner be responsible for ensuring that each guest is advised that they should be parking their rental vehicle in areas designated on the application,” he said.
A development agreement would also be registered on title at Inns of Banff.
This would establish the number and location of stalls available at the Inns of Banff for overflow rental car parking, as well as make sure any redevelopment at Inns of Banff not make use of these dedicated stalls.
