Editor:
In the Sept. 30, 2021, edition of the Outlook, Banff mayoral and council candidates in the municipal election were asked their views on continuing the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone and the takeover of the public realm for commercial purposes on an ongoing basis particularly given Banff’s federally legislated commercial development cap. Following are our elected councillors responses:
Coun. Chip Olver said closing the 100 and 200 blocks of Banff Avenue had a dramatic effect on the amount of traffic and quality of life of residents of Beaver Street and other side streets, as well as people living on the south side of the Bow River Bridge
“I’ve enjoyed the pedestrian zone, visited outdoor businesses and loved the flower boxes; however, I don’t believe we can continue blocking off the main transportation corridor for access across the bridge,” she said.
“As vehicle numbers increase with Banff Avenue closed, resident and visitor evacuation from the south side of town would be challenging,”
Residents voted her in based on her comments. Her recent vote on the continuation of the pedestrian zone is a contradiction to her 2021 comments.
Coun. Barb Pelham said the inevitable return to a busier Banff, including motor coaches with international guests and more cars, means auto traffic on Banff Avenue is necessary for the near future.
Residents voted her in based on her comments. Her recent vote on the continuation of the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone is a contradiction to her 2021 comments.
Coun. Grant Canning also believed closing Banff’s main arterial road during a year with normal summer traffic volumes will have huge impacts on the side streets, particularly Lynx and Beaver streets.
“I don’t think it should be considered permanently without a full traffic plan to mitigate the impacts on the side streets,” he said.
A full traffic plan to mitigate the impacts on the side streets has not been developed or implemented. Residents voted him in based on his comments above. His recent vote on the continuation of the Banff Avenue pedestrian zone is a contradiction to his 2021 comments.
Coun. Kaylee Ram said the pandemic made evident how reliant Banff is on tourists to keep the economy going, but said members of the community are feeling decisions within the town are primarily benefiting tourists over residents.
“Those feelings cannot be discounted. Their feelings are valid and need to be heard and taken seriously,” she said.
Mayor Corrie DiManno, and the majority of council are dismissing the repeatedly presented concerns of the residents regarding health, safety, traffic congestion, and emergency preparedness/evacuation, and continue to make decisions that only benefit certain businesses within the pedestrian zone, and some, but definitely not all tourists.
Guy Ferrari,
Banff
