Rocky Mountain House town council is moving to update its architectural guidelines bylaw for the first time since 2011—and potentially add some teeth to the law.
The 2011 bylaw calls for builders to consider the area’s history in the design of new buildings, including its association with David Thompson and trading forts.
General recommendations call for the use of fur trade-era materials such as timber, rock and clay.
However, the current council expressed concerns that the bylaw is more of a suggestion than a law.
Councillor Ken Moesker called for increased standardization in any updated bylaw, saying that when someone builds, the town is stuck with it for half a century or more.
He added that any standards should not be burdensome or cost-prohibitive, but should aim to add to the aesthetic of the town.
“This is about adding some stone, some wood—I think we can all imagine buildings around town that were built without any interest in this sort of thing and we’re stuck with them.”
Mayor Shane Boniface agreed, pointing to the new Rocky Medical Clinic building.
“Our medical clinic is a beautiful building, but I also don’t feel it fits into our community,” he said. “It would be fine downtown Calgary, but somehow it doesn’t feel like a Rocky building.”
The mayor suggested some simple architectural regulations, such as requiring stone and timber, could help buildings match the character of the town.
Coun. Trevor Kalyn said he feels most buildings in town fall somewhat within the existing guidelines and questioned whether it needs to be legislated.
Kalyn pointed to recent reforms such as the Storefront Improvement Program as an easy way for businesses to be more compliant with the guidelines.
At its April 7 meeting, council moved to engage non-residential property owners on their thoughts on the architectural guidelines during future public engagement.
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