Town of Banff Area Redevelopment Plan - Strategic Environmental Assessment
In the town of Banff, area redevelopment plans (ARP) are documents which set out the broad vision for an area and the proposed activities, policies and development needed to achieve that vision. Under the Town of Banff Incorporation Agreement, ARPs require the approval of the Minister responsible for Parks Canada before they can legally take effect. When determining if plans should be approved, the Minister must ensure that the proposal conforms with applicable federal statutes, regulations, and policy and will adequately protect the environment, as mandated in the Canada National Parks Act.
On June 24, 2024, an area redevelopment plan for the railway lands was approved by the Municipality of Banff Town Council, with the latest version being submitted to Parks Canada for review on September 11, 2024. Parks Canada has concluded that the September 11, 2024 version of this ARP conforms with applicable legislation and policy and can now move onto an environmental review process to assess if the plan will adequately protect the environment.
Parks Canada has determined that a strategic environmental assessment is the appropriate review process. A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) looks at the potential positive and negative environmental impacts of implementing the activities, polices and developments described in the ARP. An SEA provides the opportunity to incorporate environmental considerations, particularly cumulative effects considerations, into the planning process. An integral part of the development of any SEA is engagement with the public and Indigenous Nations.
In the first step of the engagement process, Parks Canada is seeking feedback from all Canadians on the draft Terms of Reference for the SEA. The Terms of Reference will identify what the Town of Banff will need to evaluate in the SEA, creating a "roadmap" for the SEA.
Once the Terms of Reference have been finalized, Parks Canada will seek further public and Indigenous input on the draft SEA. Feedback from these processes may be used to inform changes to both the SEA and the ARP. Based on the findings of the final SEA, Parks Canada will make a determination on the significance of impacts which will form part of the package that will be sent to the Minister for their decision.
In the town of Banff, area redevelopment plans (ARP) are documents which set out the broad vision for an area and the proposed activities, policies and development needed to achieve that vision. Under the Town of Banff Incorporation Agreement, ARPs require the approval of the Minister responsible for Parks Canada before they can legally take effect. When determining if plans should be approved, the Minister must ensure that the proposal conforms with applicable federal statutes, regulations, and policy and will adequately protect the environment, as mandated in the Canada National Parks Act.
On June 24, 2024, an area redevelopment plan for the railway lands was approved by the Municipality of Banff Town Council, with the latest version being submitted to Parks Canada for review on September 11, 2024. Parks Canada has concluded that the September 11, 2024 version of this ARP conforms with applicable legislation and policy and can now move onto an environmental review process to assess if the plan will adequately protect the environment.
Parks Canada has determined that a strategic environmental assessment is the appropriate review process. A strategic environmental assessment (SEA) looks at the potential positive and negative environmental impacts of implementing the activities, polices and developments described in the ARP. An SEA provides the opportunity to incorporate environmental considerations, particularly cumulative effects considerations, into the planning process. An integral part of the development of any SEA is engagement with the public and Indigenous Nations.
In the first step of the engagement process, Parks Canada is seeking feedback from all Canadians on the draft Terms of Reference for the SEA. The Terms of Reference will identify what the Town of Banff will need to evaluate in the SEA, creating a "roadmap" for the SEA.
Once the Terms of Reference have been finalized, Parks Canada will seek further public and Indigenous input on the draft SEA. Feedback from these processes may be used to inform changes to both the SEA and the ARP. Based on the findings of the final SEA, Parks Canada will make a determination on the significance of impacts which will form part of the package that will be sent to the Minister for their decision.
Town of Banff Area Redevelopment Plan - Strategic Environmental Assessment is currently at this stage
Seeking feedback on the draft Terms of Reference (we are here)
Draft Strategic Environmental Assesssment
this is an upcoming stage for Town of Banff Area Redevelopment Plan - Strategic Environmental Assessment
Seeking feedback on the draft Strategic Environmental Assessment, based on the Terms of Reference
What We Heard and Final Strategic Environmental Assessment
this is an upcoming stage for Town of Banff Area Redevelopment Plan - Strategic Environmental Assessment
The results of the engagement on the Terms of Reference and the Strategic Environmental Assessment. The final Strategic Environmental Assessment that will be sent to the Minister for Decision.
