It seems fast-food franchises and souvenir shops are safe in Banff - for now.
In its efforts to overhaul the town's land-use bylaw, Banff town council decided in July that it won't immediately wade further into regulation of businesses based on the products they sell or their franchise affiliations.
Council defeated a vote on July 18 to regulate the location and/or number of souvenir and gift shops. It instead asked staff to return with a report comparing the mix of business offerings in 2001 and 2006 with 2011 to see whether or not the ratio of souvenir shops and formula fast-food businesses has changed over time.
Some in the community feel franchise businesses - even a Canadian classic such as the recently opened Tim Hortons - are eroding the traditional feel and character of the country's most prominent national park community.
While Banff allows fast-food franchises, it has long prohibited suburban staples such as traffic-snarling drive-thru windows. In Banff, drivers can't fetch a double double or a Big Mac without leaving their cars.
– Compiled by Dave Husdal
from Western Investor September 2011
