BANFF – Banff has created a new policy to direct development on the type and quality of material used for construction site hoarding, but stopped short of requiring public art to be included.
Construction site hoarding can be seen around the community when homes or commercial developments are under construction.
Development policy planner Emma Sanborn said the types of fencing, or hoarding, the materials and the inclusion of public art has varied in the past.
“For many, it is literally a temporary eyesore, but art can be incorporated into hoarding,” she said.
“Hoarding can span an entire building. Hoarding can have an exciting marketing message. It can convey information about the property’s history or information about the project.
“Sometimes, it is purely function and not pretty.”
The policy came about after council directed administration to address the inconsistency in quality of how construction sites are shielded during development projects.
Instead of requiring public art be included, Sanborn said the new policy sets quality standards for the material used depending on the land use district.
“There is no incentive for art, but a focus more on quality and trying to provide guidance for what is expected and where,” she said.
