Residents of Banff vote no to downtown pedestrian zone

Residents of Banff have voted no on whether or not to have a pedestrian zone every summer along the town’s Banff Avenue.

The town released the unofficials results of the vote on Monday showing 52.6 per cent of residents voting against the idea.

According to a release, there were 2,523 votes cast and 1,194 people voted yes, compared to 1,328 who voted no. There was one spoiled ballot.

“Because the results are no, according to provincial law, council must pass a bylaw to rescind their original decision to have an annual summer Pedestrian Zone,” reads the release.

“The pedestrian zone public amenities will be dismantled starting in the days immediately after the bylaw is passed, including removal of extra public seating, bicycle parking and flower planters.”

The next council meeting where the bylaw can be passed is Aug. 26.

The dismantling of the pedestrian zone amenities will include taking down restaurant patios and retail displays. Traffic light signal timing will also be adjusted to coordinate with lights on Spray Avenue.

Voters were asked a simple yes-or-no question on the ballot: ‘Do you support Banff Town Council’s decision to have a downtown pedestrian zone on Banff Avenue every summer, from the May Long Weekend to the Thanksgiving Long Weekend?’

To have a say, people needed to live in Banff at the time of the vote, be a Canadian citizen, and be at least 18 years old.

Three advance votes were held last month.

On Jan. 17, during the finalization of Banff’s budget, council directed administration to move forward with the implementation of a downtown pedestrian zone annually, from May Long Weekend to the Thanksgiving Long Weekend.

A petition against that decision was validated in April, and a month later, council decided to bring the decision to the people.

Banff has had a pedestrian zone in place since 2020, first, as a pandemic safety measure, then as an economic recovery attraction and visitor experience.

Town officials say up to 40,000 people per day walk the two-block area where the pedestrian zone is located.