It is vacant site that has seen multiple development proposals over the years, including a movie theatre, but soon 300 Old Canmore Road will become a multi-unit commercial development.
It is vacant site that has seen multiple development proposals over the years, including a movie theatre, but soon 300 Old Canmore Road will become a multi-unit commercial development.
The Shops of Canmore received approval from the Canmore Planning Commission last Thursday (June 29) for its development permit application.
Architect Stephen Carruthers told the commission that it is an extremely highly visible site at the corner of Bow Valley Trail and Benchlands Trail, next to Coast Hotel and Grizzly Paw Brewery.
Carruthers said keys to the project are public amenity spaces, including a plaza on the corner and main access to the site.
“The Shops of Canmore is more than a collection of buildings spotted around the site,” he said. “We have worked very hard to give it a very high level of urban design.
“We feel some of the public realm elements of the site are really suited for a whole host of activities.”
There is significant public amenity space, and Carruthers said that approach was extended to the second level of the structures, with terraces to offer more opportunities to take in mountain views.
The development includes four separate buildings with uses like eating establishments, retail, convenience, light manufacturing and office.
Local developer Neil Tanner is the developer. He also owns and built the downtown multi-commercial building at the corner of Main Street and Seventh Avenue that houses Murrietta's and Beamer's Coffee Bar.
Michael Beamer was in the audience for the planning commission meeting and celebrated the approval, saying a third location for his locally owned business would be there.
The Shops of Canmore include 122 parking stalls, including 37 in an underground parkade, and one bus stall. Significant bike parking will also be provided.
Variances requested and granted by the commission include one to the eaveline height, the floor area ratio, the minimum amount of trees and shrubs for landscaping, setback along Bow Valley Trail and finishing materials.
Planner Marcus Henry went through the variances for the commission as well.
“Administration has no issue with the variances requested,” he said.
Henry noted the proposal includes significant improvement to areas that are not part of the property, but are public spaces. That includes the pathway or trail along Bow Valley Trail as well as amphitheatre style seating along the slope that is Benchlands Trail. The seating faces an area that could be used for public events located on the site.
Henry said given substantial improvements to the public realm, administration supported the variance to minimum landscaping requirements.
