Canmore Approves Alpine Club Redevelopment Framework Despite Traffic, Safety Concerns

Canmore council has unanimously approved a long-term redevelopment framework for the Alpine Club of Canada's (ACC) national clubhouse, clearing the way for expanded staff housing, a new maintenance facility and up to 140 parking spaces despite concerns about increased traffic and safety.

The new approval not authorize immediate construction. Future projects would still require development permit applications and could include modernized office and visitor facilities, improved emergency access, water and wastewater upgrades and consolidated parking serving the clubhouse and nearby trailheads.

The proposal attracted widespread support from the climbing community but drew opposition from the neighbouring Bow Valley Riding Association, which argued the parking expansion could increase traffic and create safety concerns for horses, riders, pedestrians and wildlife using Indian Flats Road.

The Town of Canmore administration recommended that council approve the proposal, concluding it met the Municipal Development Plan's requirements for development within environmentally sensitive lands because it demonstrated exceptional community benefit and was supported by an acceptable Environmental Impact Statement.

The application stems from the ACC's decades-long effort to modernize facilities it says have become inadequate as the organization has grown. The land-use amendment follows a 2024 extension of the organization's provincial lease by roughly 60 years, giving it the certainty to plan major infrastructure upgrades.

The ACC has operated from the site since 1972 but says facilities originally built to support six backcountry huts are now responsible for maintaining a network of 26 huts across the Canadian Rockies and Columbia Mountains, prompting what planning documents describe as a crossroads for the organization's long-term sustainability.

ACC facilities administration manager Michael Geertsema said the organization explored relocating its maintenance operations before concluding redevelopment of its current site was the best option.

"I'm asking you to approve the (framework) so that we can stay in Canmore and continue to redevelop and grow," he said.

The existing maintenance building, he said, lacks indoor plumbing, sits on a steep slope and no longer meets the organization's operational needs.

Planning documents submitted to council state six ACC employees lived in their vehicles during 2024 because they could not find housing in Canmore, with some relying on the community's Safe Park program. The redevelopment framework would allow staff accommodation to increase from three beds to a maximum of 15 while maintaining the clubhouse's existing 60 visitor accommodation beds.

Geertsema emphasized repeatedly that the proposal is intended to improve operations rather than expand tourism accommodation.

"There's no increase in hotel units. The addition of staff accommodation is going to benefit not just the Alpine Club, but the community as well," he said.

The proposal would consolidate approximately two dozen formal parking stalls and numerous informal roadside parking areas into a parking system that could eventually accommodate up to 140 vehicles serving ACC guests, staff, courses and public trail users accessing popular climbing areas including Echo Canyon and Bataan.

The ACC argued the expansion would improve emergency access, eliminate hazardous roadside parking and better organize recreation use already occurring in the area.

The neighbouring Bow Valley Riding Association, however, warned the additional parking could fundamentally change the character of Indian Flats Road and create new conflicts between vehicles, horses, cyclists, pedestrians and wildlife.

Association representatives told council they support redevelopment of the ACC itself, including a new maintenance facility and staff housing, but opposed proceeding without a broader traffic management strategy.

The association argued existing problems, including speeding, illegal parking, blocked access, garbage and insufficient enforcement, should be addressed before encouraging additional public use of the corridor. Members also questioned whether a traffic impact assessment had adequately considered equestrian operations and emergency evacuation of horses from the adjacent riding facility.

Councillors acknowledged those concerns throughout the discussion but agreed they could be addressed during future development permit reviews rather than through the land-use bylaw itself.

"With respect to the traffic and road use there are very serious concerns raised," Mayor Sean Krausert said. “I think that there are certain things, but it's not this process that will deal with that,”

Instead, Krausert said future discussions between the province, the ACC and neighbouring leaseholders would need to address issues such as traffic management, road design, signage and public safety.

Councillors emphasized that approving the framework does not authorize construction. Future proposals, including parking, road improvements, staff housing and new facilities, will each require separate development permit applications, along with additional technical review and, where required, opportunities for public input.

The ACC has not provided a construction timeline, saying redevelopment will proceed in phases as funding becomes available, with regrading the access road and replacing the aging maintenance facility expected to be among the first priorities.