The 200 block of Bear Street is getting a makeover to make it more inviting and vibrant to residents and visitors.
At a council meeting on Monday (April 13), council approved a three-year trial of turning Bear Street into a woonerf, a Dutch term that describes shared-use streets that focus on pedestrian experience.
As part of the project, Banff’s summer farmers market will also move from Central Park to the surface parking lot on Bear Street, and other special events, such as entertainment and education events, are being planned to make the street more vibrant.
“I’m personally thrilled with the idea of this going forward,” said Mayor Karen Sorensen. “A trial is money well spent and I think we will learn a lot from it.”
Banff has $250,000 on the capital books for 2017 and $3.5 million for 2018 for a permanent woonerf project. The capital costs for the trial project are $99,000, plus $17,000 per year for maintenance.
The three-year trial is intended to help look at traffic flow, congestion and parking issues before moving ahead with construction of a full-blown woonerf project in 2018, as well as identify any improvements for the project’s final design.
The trial will operate during the summer months only, and will be dismantled for winter.
Street design will include temporary planters and public seating benches similar to ones on Banff Avenue. It will also allow private sidewalk seating areas in front of restaurants and cafés, which would be built on wooden platforms into the roadway.
Vehicles will still be allowed on the two-way street, but at much slower speeds. On-street parallel parking will be strategically placed to slow down traffic.
There will be 22 fewer parking spaces along Bear Street, from the existing 38 parking stalls down to 16. The Bear Street surface lot would still be open, though not available for parking on market day.
Officials say they don’t expect a woonerf trial will have a significant effect on congestion in town.
“The principal travel routes are Lynx Street and Banff Avenue,” said Pierre-Hugues Gagnon, the Town of Banff’s engineering coordinator. “The congestion impacts are expected to be negligible.”
Councillor Stavros Karlos voiced strong support for the concept of a woonerf and the capital project in 2018, but voted against the trial because he believes paid parking and increased public transit need to be in place to make the project ultimately successful.
“I’ve struggled with this. I need to personally see paid parking, increased transit – I’m talking double frequency – and potentially a system that lets visitors get on at little to no cost,” he said.
“I whole-heartedly support this woonerf concept and hopefully by that time we will have those other systems in place to make this as successful as possible. I am absolutely in favour of full reconstruction of Bear Street.”
Karlos, however, said he would not be disappointed to see the trial move ahead, even though he voted against against it, partly based on principle.
Council has voted to hold a plebiscite on paid parking in conjunction with the 2017 municipal election, or when the parking shortfall in the broader downtown core reaches 150 – whichever comes first.
“That (loss) of 22 stalls is just going to get us closer to a plebiscite,” he said. “And I’m ready.”
Bear Street consists largely of locally owned businesses and professional services, and is home to art galleries, bike rentals shops, retails stores, Bison Courtyard, and several restaurants and coffee shops.
The street, which runs parallel to Banff Avenue, is not nearly as busy and congested as Banff’s famous main strip.
Businesses who have been lobbying council to invest in Bear Street welcomed the trial.
“Two thumbs up. This will bring a whole new look and vibrancy to Bear Street,” said James Sachkiw, owner of Saltlik Steakhouse. “It can be an amazing street for everyone.”
Coun. Brian Standish voted for the three-year trial, but voiced opposition to bringing the farmer’s market to Bear Street. The market will operate on Wednesdays for 16 weeks from June 10 through to Sept. 23.
“I’m a huge supporter of the Banff farmer’s market, but I’m not prepared to jump into the deep end of the swimming pool just yet,” he said. “I’d like to see the trial this year and the farmer’s market for the following year … baby steps.”
Karlos also voted against moving the farmer’s market to Bear Street.
“Without a doubt, the farmer’s market would be successful in either location,” he said.
“I have always envisioned Central Park as our downtown special events place … music and entertainment,” he said.
“I worry you are not going to achieve that fun summer-time feeling in an asphalt parking lot surrounded by buildings.”
Coun. Grant Canning declared a pecuniary interest and excused himself from the discussion and vote, noting he is likely to apply for a permit to have private sidewalk seating for his Bear Street business, the Cake Company Café.
Coun. Ted Christensen was absent from council.
