The Canmore Town Council voted on March 3, 2026, to take more time to review its downtown growth plan to ensure local parks and property rights are protected. This decision follows a public hearing held in February and will require town staff to report back with more information by July 2026.
The review focuses on how new rules will affect Riverside Park and whether existing buildings will be protected if zoning changes occur. Council members want to make sure the park remains a public space even if its official category is updated from a wildland area to a public-use zone.
Officials are also looking into “grandfathering” rules for property owners. This would help ensure that if a building no longer fits the new zoning laws, the owner could still repair or rebuild it if the structure is damaged in the future.
The Bow Valley Builders and Developers Association also raised questions about environmental rules regarding how close new projects can be to the water. Council has asked staff to clarify these rules to balance building needs with the protection of local waterbodies.
This downtown project started in 2023 and has already gathered input from more than 4,600 residents. While the overall vision for the area was approved on July 8, 2025, these new steps are meant to refine the specific laws that will guide construction and land use in Canmore for years to come.
