LAKE LOUISE – Parks Canada has launched the first phase of public consultation of the review and update of the outdated community plans for Lake Louise and Field.
Online surveys, which are live until July 2, can be found at www.letstalkmountainparks.ca/communityplanupdates.
At the same time, Parks Canada is working on a visitor use management strategy for Lake Louise, which has seen explosive visitor growth in the past decade – a 31 per cent increase over the last 10 years and is expected to continue to rise – and officials say community plan conversations will link into that process.
Tracy LeBlanc, townsite and realty manager for Lake Louise and Field, said parking and transportation have been raised as significant issues in Lake Louise.
“Climate change is one of the issues that we’ve been chatting with people about, as is transportation and internal community mobility, infrastructure, housing,” she said.
“These are some of the questions that we’re chatting with community members about and that’s where we’ll move forward, but it is really within those boundaries of the communities themselves.”
In recent years, Parks Canada released six lots within the community of Lake Louise to help address some of the staff housing challenges.
“We’re now into that phase where the businesses are starting the process of constructing those new housing units,” said LeBlanc.
“That is something that we will be seeing in the next few years … we will see those lots being constructed.”
Set boundaries and legislated limits to commercial growth will remain unchanged in Lake Louise and Field.
The current 2001 community plan for Lake Louise agreed to the development of the Chateau Lake Louise convention centre, expansion of the hostel and train station restaurant for a total of 15,606 square metres, 67 guest rooms and 154 overnight guests.
Under the existing plan, an additional increase of existing commercial accommodation operations for a total of 3,660 square metres, 58 guest rooms and 148 overnight guests was permitted.
“If you look at the existing community plan, all of the commercial space was allocated out in the 2001 and 2003 implementation guidelines,” said LeBlanc.
“We will not be changing the existing limits to growth … so the legislative boundary of the community will stay the same and the legislated commercial development will be limited as well.”
Community plans are a long-term vision for a sustainable future that integrates a healthy natural environment with economic and social well-being. The updated plans will help guide these communities over the next 10-plus years.
This project is scheduled to be completed in 2025.
The community plans guide decision-making only within the geographic boundaries of the townsites of Lake Louise and Field. Strategic direction for the rest of Banff and Yoho national parks is provided by park management plans.
Parks Canada is seeking feedback on some of the most important challenges facing the community of Lake Louise over the next 10 years, such as high volume of summer visitors and lack of parking. Providing and maintaining community infrastructure are also on the list of challenges.
The surveys also list challenges on preserving natural environment, protecting heritage buildings, adapting to climate change, retaining an adequate workforce, providing appropriate housing, ensuring affordability, community access to public transportation options, and creating a positive sense of community.
Part of the first phase of public consultations has involved open houses in Lake Louise and Field.
LeBlanc said Parks Canada is keen to get feedback and perspectives from community members.
“It’s vital that we have residents and stakeholders and businesses give their input because that’s what makes a really sustainable, usable plan that’s going to last for the 10 years,” she said.
After the new community plans for Lake Louise and Field are drafted, Parks Canada will go out to the public again for feedback in 2025.
