Residents returning to Jasper can use RVs and trailers as transitional accommodation within the townsite for at least a month.
Visitors continue to not be allowed in the town and the RV rules do not apply to anyone who is not a resident.
On Tuesday (Aug. 20), Jasper Municipal Council approved the temporary relaxation of RV parking regulations from Aug. 16 to Sept. 15.
“As you can imagine, RV parking can be a challenge in Jasper in normal times, but it does provide an opportunity for us to allow residents to reestablish their properties where they remain and to start to reconnect to the community,” CAO Bill Given told council.
Coun. Scott Wilson wanted to clarify that this exception was for residents and not out-of-town contractors or any other non-resident.
Given confirmed that it was a temporary measure exclusive for residents.
“There’s no expectation from administration that we would be housing residents long-term in RVs, certainly not over winter,” he said.
The Municipality of Jasper is also waiving the 72-hour time limit for parking an RV or trailer on a roadway in front of a resident’s home, and it is allowing trailers to be left unattached on a roadway.
These rules are only relaxed in green zones where dwellings are still standing but not red zones since clean-up crews would need to access these sites.
Administration estimated that the recent wildfire destroyed approximately 820 residential units.
As the rebuilding of Jasper is anticipated to take years, officials are working on a plan to provide more proper temporary housing.
An intergovernmental committee made up of all three levels of government is expected to come up with recommendations.
Residents are asked to fill out an online housing needs assessment survey to help inform these efforts.
Administration had already implemented these changes in advance of re-entry but was looking for council’s formal approval.
“The intention here is that these would be temporary measures while transitional housing can be established in the community,” Given said.
“And they really are focused on enabling residents whose dwellings still remain to be able to remediate their property, to be in the community while they undertake that and then ultimately to be able to re-enter their properties.”
Given encouraged any resident who didn't have a place to park their RV, such as a friend's driveway, to reach out to Jasper Bylaw.
Residents are encouraged to park RVs and trailers in residential driveways whenever possible to reduce roadway congestion, and using these vehicles for accommodation in public parking lots remains prohibited.
Wilson noted later they could revisit the topic once Sept. 15 approaches and potentially extend the relaxation for another month if needed.
