Joanne McQuarrie, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter | [email protected]
Homeowners in Cabin Creek will soon have to renew their 42-year-old leases with Parks Canada.
Steve Young, media officer for Jasper National Park, said it is “an unusual situation” to have such a large number of leases expiring at the same time.
It has come about because the original Cabin Creek subdivision was developed in 1980 so many leases for properties in that area are set to expire in 2022.
As part of the renewal, homeowners will have to go through a rigorous inspection process with Parks to make sure their properties are compliant with their land lease - and address anything that isn’t before their lease is renewed.
To substantiate the leasehold is in good standing, Parks Canada requires a real property report (RPR) be completed by a Canada Lands Surveyor, followed by an inspection by Parks’ compliance officer. It includes a file audit, permit list and compliance letter.
Each lessee is required to submit a statutory declaration form for eligible residency, to confirm who is living on the property, including all occupants' names, eligibility definition, and evidence to support their eligibility.
The form has to be signed in front of a Commissioner for Oaths or a Notary Public.
Each lessee must then address any outstanding leasehold or municipal bylaw matters identified by Parks Canada.
Young said lease compliance issues that come up in Jasper include homeowners developing without permits, and owners not meeting eligible residency requirements.
The eligibility requirement is considered a "severe" breach, he said.
The severity of the breach for developing a home without a permit depends on “life-safety issues with the non-permitted development”. This covers many breaches, from painting a home a non-compliant colour to building a deck or other permanent structure without a permit.
Young said situations are handled on an individual basis and relaxations will only be considered “if alternate solutions that meet the required objectives are brought forward”.
"Working together with lessees to resolve lease non-compliance issues has been very successful in Jasper," he said.
There is no cost for the residential leases with Parks, but homeowners will be charged a $98 administration fee for their renewal.
Getting ahead
Even though leases in the Cabin Creek subdivision don't expire until June 30, 2022, resident Connie Sawka decided to preempt the renewal process by getting started early after receiving letters from Parks Canada about the expiration date.
"I just touched base with friends in the neighbourhood," Sawka said. "We were looking at getting together to save money. Surveyors have to be paid to come here and to my understanding, there isn't anyone local to hire."
To gauge interest in a group rate, she and another Cabin Creek resident, Ann Thomas, donned masks and went door to door, leaving Sawka's phone number if people weren't home.
They contacted 130 to 135 people either in person, or with a note, and of those who did respond to her, some had surveys (RPRs) done already.
Once Sawka had a list of names of those interested she contacted McElhanney, a land surveying company based in Hinton, who calculated a group rate.
Ben Giesbrecht, a Canada Lands surveyor and Alberta Land surveyor and branch manager of the Yellowhead Region with McElhanney, said, "We've done a lot of surveys in Jasper over the years. It made sense for us to give them a group rate because we've been in the area for so long."
Sawka signed up Cabin Creek residents for the group rate.
She said, “People are appreciative about being part of a group project."
She said she's impressed with the neighbourliness of all residents in Cabin Creek.
"Interactions - phone, email, in person - were always so positive," she said. "Jasperites are truly a special breed and one can see where that strong sense of community comes from."
Fieldwork in the neighbourhood was completed by McElhanney on Dec. 1 with RPRs projected to be done by the end of January.
Getting the required information early is good for Parks Canada staff.
Young said, “Our realty and municipal services staff are being proactive in starting the process earlier, so everybody doesn't have to rush around at the last minute.”
The leases are in effect for 42 years.
