Editor: I have lived and worked in Banff National Park for the past 36 years.
My wife and I reside across the street from the proposed 431/433 affordable housing site. In our 15-unit complex there are 15 parking stalls. We own two cars, putting one out on the street to be used for my daily commute to work.
My wife enjoys walking to her place of employment each day. We are very typical of the demographic in our neighbourhood. We do not use bikes nor do we own bikes and, contrary to the formula being used by the town, in our complex of 15 parking stalls there are approximately 10 bikes for 15 units with approximately 47 residents.
In recent years, it has becoming increasingly more difficult to find on-street parking in our neighbourhood after working hours, more so than ever this past summer. Tourists and staff from Banff Avenue hotels and residents all compete for already limited parking.
To relax an underground parking opportunity for a new, high-density development versus the real need to get more cars off the street does not make sense on the already maxed out 400 block of Marten Street.
C-122 needs to recognize the differing neighbourhoods of Banff with sound vehicle counts and adjust accordingly.
Newt McMillan,
Banff
