Garden centre, greenhouse proposed for Industrial Triangle

A permanent garden centre and greenhouse is being proposed for the Industrial Triangle of Canmore.

An application for a development permit for the former Burnco site was preceded by a sustainability screening report application at a Jan. 26 council meeting.

Dennis Little presented the SSR, which measures a proposals economic, social and environmental sustainability, for Wendy Manahan who hopes to establish the permanent gardening centre.

“A big aspect of the project are educational classes and seminars and a community garden aspect,” Little said. “We look at the garden centre as a place people come for education and social gathering.”

Manahan told council she hopes to establish a community garden on site and is looking at both indoor and outdoor options.

While council accepted the SSR, there were some concerns expressed about how many full- and part-time positions are expected and how those employees will be housed.

Little said the business plan is still being worked on, but expects four to five permanent positions and the same for seasonal employment.

“The only piece that gives me some angst is the number of employees and that is something we have tended to track,” said Mayor Ron Casey. “Knowing the staffing situation in Canmore… eight to 10 employees is starting to get up there.

“Any thoughts on how you will accommodate that staff?”

Little said housing staff is beyond the scope of the proponent, but the intent is to pay employees a living wage.

But he added that in looking at the economic sustainability of the project for the application he called the Town to ask what is considered a living wage, a question put to proponents by the Town in the SSR materials.

“We did not get an answer,” he said.

As for environmental initiatives, the project plans to use solar panels to supplement floor-heating system, solar energy blankets and shades for heat retention and distribution and rainwater collection.

The proposal expects an 8,000 to 10,000 square foot structure plus landscaping on the 88,000 square foot lot.

An SSR is required for development permits for commercial structures of 10,000 square feet or more.