National Parks

Limits to growth

In the mid 1990’s, the Banff/Bow Valley study recognized the single largest challenge to ecological integrity in Banff National Park and other National Parks has been the growth of human infrastructure, in particular, growth in the river valleys.

The policy response to that challenge has been focus on placing limits on the growth of that infrastructure. There are three main areas that the Limit to Growth Policy has addressed:

1. Communities
2. Outlying Commercial Accommodations (OCA)
3. Ski Areas

Communities

In the late 1990’s, each park community was required to complete a community plan setting legal limits on community boundaries, population and commercial space to be developed. These plans were then adopted into law and form a legal limitation for future growth of these communities. CPAWS has been pleased to see the community plans in place and their passage into law.

The Town of Banff is currently reviewing their Community Plan. Click here learn about this review process.

Outlying Commercial Accommodations

Outlying Commercial Accommodations (OCA) includes all tourist accommodations outside the above communities. Over the last few years, limits to the future expansion of OCA’s have been negotiated and as a result, limits now form part of their leases.

CPAWS is supportive of the Limit to Growth Policy and hopes to see it applied consistently. To learn more about this policy, please refer to “What’s Happening in our Mountain Parks?”

Ski Areas

Limits have been attempted to be set on ski areas, however this process has not yet been completed. This issue remains highly contentious. CPAWS is anxious to see the process of long range planning of ski areas move ahead as quickly as possibly.
Ski Areas

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