Banff council reconsidered a decision from earlier this summer to deny a development permit for a farmers market at the train station and approved having a market for one day on each weekend until the end of October.
The new farmers market application was made by Rene Geber, who runs the successful market each Wednesday during summer, and originally it was proposed to be over each weekend at the train station, which is operated by Caribou Properties.
Council voted to approve a second market on the private property site on one day each weekend, either Saturday or Sunday, until the end of October.
While Mayor Karen Sorensen brought forward the motion to reconsider the issue, Councillor Ted Christensen continued to have concerns about moving forward with a trial market at the train station without administration first developing guidelines for having a special event development permit for a market on private property.
“I have difficulty with the concept that has been pointed out to me that businesses come into town and operate for a seasonal length of time and even if they pay a business licence fee … they still don’t contribute as much to the economy of the community,” Christensen said. “It has been suggested that farmers market vendors take away some of the profit other businesses in the community earn.
“I think that we do need time to review the fees and the licensing and have a survey of the other businesses affected.”
Sorensen made sure the motion included wording to make it clear the new market is for a trial period on a weekend day – either Saturday or Sunday – until the end of October and that business licences will be required for all vendors. She also made it a requirement that all vendors must bake, make or grow their wares themselves and come from within 500 kilometres.
“It is important to me that the public and the applicant understand that this moving forward would be a trial for a portion of the season,” she said.
Sorensen said she is not necessarily sold on the idea of the weekend market at the train station, however, council has benefited from doing trial runs in the past.
“It will allow vendors, the applicant and the business community to experience the idea and also experience the location,” she said. “A weekly report will be submitted to planning by the applicant in advance to ensure compliance.”
Geber told council he is focused on having a good mix of vendors at the weekly market on Wednesdays.
“I work hard to make sure no vendors sell what can be bought in the retail stores,” he said.
Coun. Corrie DiManno said the provisions put in place by the mayor gives her comfort in supporting the trial.
“I do have enough information to make a decision and we have put measures in place to create a level playing field,” she said.
