The owners of Banff Auto Services are voicing opposition to proposed legislation that would allow for more convenience store and restaurant space in Husky Oil’s redevelopment plans for its demolished gas station site on Banff Avenue.
Banff council has passed first reading of a land use bylaw amendment that would change the percentage of gross floor area allowed for accessory uses in all service stations in the commercial accommodation (CA) district from 10 per cent to up to 70 per cent.
The proposed change to Banff’s land use bylaw, which was brought to the planning department by Husky Oil, is going to a public hearing for town council’s consideration next Monday (April 25).
“If bylaw 359 is passed, then in a very short period of time Banff Auto Services will cease to exist,” wrote Tim Bartlett in a letter to council.
“Our landlord – Shell Canada – will terminate our lease and put in a convenience store. That is the trend of service stations. If bylaw 359 is passed, the Town of Banff will lose four vehicle repair bays.”
The current land use bylaw regulates the percentage of gross floor area of service stations that may be allocated for convenience retail store and eating and drinking establishment in the CA district at no more than 10 per cent of the building.
This provision was introduced in 2000 as a way to address concerns regarding the potential loss of service station in Banff over the long term. A more specific concern at the time centred on the loss of vehicle repair bays within service stations.
Keith Batstone, a Town of Banff planner, said administration believes concerns regarding the loss of vehicle repair bays in Banff have diminished since that time, particularly due to new auto and equipment repair shops in the industrial compound.
“Planning and development is of the opinion that the proposal is appropriate and complimentary to the stated purpose of the district, which is to provide visitor accommodations and – by implication – related services,” he said.
“There are a relatively limited range of existing convenience retail stores and eating and drinking establishments near existing service stations at this time, which would benefit visitors and residents of the adjacent neighbourhoods.”
Bartlett, however, said there is a big need for vehicle repairs bays in Banff, noting there are currently only 14 repair bays throughout town.
“That means only 14 cars are being worked on at any given time,” he said.
Bartlett also said the volume of vehicle repair activity at Banff Auto Services has steadily increased year over year.
He said since the Petro-Canada on Lynx Street closed its service bays, Banff Auto Services is now the only workshop downtown, noting tourists especially require immediate attention.
“Summer time is extremely busy and we do our best to get tourists back on the road as quickly as possible,” said Bartlett. “There is no longer a ‘quiet time.’ ”
In the 1970s there were nine service stations with vehicle repair bays in the tourist town and Bartlett said Banff Auto Service is the last service station in Banff with vehicle repair bays.
“Banff cannot afford to lose any more automotive repair facilities; there are just too many cars, both local and seasonal,” he said. “This is particularly relevant with the commercial growth cap.”
Husky Oil, one of Canada’s largest petroleum producers, demolished its service station, retail store and fast food takeout establishment at 601 Banff Avenue in August 2010.
The oil giant, which used to sub-lease the land from a local businessman, now owns one lot that was home to the old service station and the former Bumper’s restaurant and now wants to redevelop.
