Banff validates petition against annual pedestrian zones

A petition against having a permanent pedestrian zone in the Town of Banff six months of the year now has legs, after it was declared valid by the town manager.

The town will now prepare a bylaw to rescind the decision at it’s May 13 meeting.

During that meeting, council must decide whether to pass the bylaw, which would overturn the previous decision, or for citizens to decide through a vote.

Resident Leslie Taylor filed a petition on March 1, asking a resolution passed on January 17, be repealed.

The January resolution, passed during finalization of the budget, directed Banff’s administration to move forward with the implementation of a downtown pedestrian zone annually, from May Long Weekend to the Thanksgiving Long Weekend.

In order for the petition to be valid under the Municipal Government Act (MGA), it must be filed within 60 days of the decision and have signatures from 10 per cent of the population that were properly witnessed.

Town Manager Kelly Gibson said in a document issued Monday that these requirements had been met.

Banff has had a pedestrian zone in place since the COVID-19 pandemic began four years ago.

Parks Canada has raised concerns about the ongoing commercialization of public space, saying it runs contrary to the laws that ensure the area is protected.

-With files from The Canadian Press