The housing corporation is looking to remedy the staff accommodation shortage in Jasper by developing more units, with funds provided by local businesses, developers and organizations.

The corporation’s idea is to collect contributions of $15,000 per accommodation unit from businesses who are in need of more staff housing. That money would then be used as equity to purchase land and develop housing units.

“Any business will be able to access and be involved in this,” said George Krefting, municipal manager for the town of Jasper.

Last week council approved first reading of a bylaw that would allow the housing corporation to start collecting funds from interested partners.

There will be two more readings, on undetermined dates, before the bylaw is approved.

Krefting said now that first reading has passed, it’s time for consultation with the businesses in town.

“I think we’re at the point now where, we’ve spent quite a bit of time working with Parks Canada and working with the community on the land, but I think now we need to spend more time with the actual businesses before we finalize the bylaw.”

If, in the future, second and third reading are passed, the municipal manager will be responsible for the management and operation of funds collected for the new staff housing.

According to the proposed bylaw, every business or individual who contributes funds to the project will be tied to a 10-year lease. They will also be responsible for paying a monthly fee equivalent to all of the prorated costs of building, maintaining, operating and administering the staff housing unit. This would include mortgage payments, taxes, land acquisition, servicing, and contingencies.

A survey conducted by Jasper Tourism and Commerce in 2008 revealed a need for 216 more staff accommodation beds. 

In response to that need, the housing corporation, along with the municipality, submitted a development strategy to Parks Canada for four parcels of land.

At that time, Parks Canada said it couldn’t release the land until its zoning was changed, which was to happen in conjunction with federal approval of the Jasper Community Sustainability Plan.

The plan was adopted by council in July of 2010 and was approved by Parks in the final days of 2011.

Following that approval, the housing corporation applied for a licence to occupy those four parcels of land.

The housing corporation is currently working on a new survey to determine what the actual demand for staff housing is in town. 

The number of units built will depend on that demand, but there will need to be a minimum number of units accounted for before construction can begin.

“Economies of scale require that you need a certain number to start. I can’t tell you at this point in time exactly what the number is, but I think it would be greater than 30,” said Krefting.

Having the housing corporation construct staff accommodations would benefit businesses in that they can avoid the hassle of both acquiring land and constructing a building themselves.

“The municipality or the housing corporation has access to the housing reserve lands that have been designated for the community, so it provides the businesses the opportunity to have access to and be involved in the development on these housing reserve lands,” said Krefting.

Coun. Brenda Zinck, who sits on the housing corporation board, said it’s taken a lot of work to get this far and it’s important that the project move ahead to open up more housing in the community. 

She also noted that it’s important not to rush second and third reading of the bylaw, so there’s time to do proper consultation.