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Leasing framework hammered out
Public hears from government, gives its opinion on recreational leases
Katherine Hudson Northern News Services Published Thursday, February 16, 2012 On Feb. 7, Beverley Chamberlain, director of land administration for MACA, headed a public information session at the Mackenzie Hotel where about a dozen cabin owners heard about the recreational leasing framework, and asked questions about future leasing, what happens if land ownership changes hands in the future and gave feedback on the framework's results thus far.
To create a new way of handling recreational land, MACA started work on the framework in 2009, studying the Yellowknife area and Airport Lake where there are clusters of many cabins. MACA found it is possible to add more recreational lease sites to both areas and is currently establishing a fair way for the public to acquire a lease on the proposed new sites and set some guidelines to control development like setting limits on the size of cabins and the number of outbuildings that can be placed on a recreational lot.
There are 42 recreational cabin sites located on Commissioner's land on Airport Lake with the possibility of an additional 16 sites being able to be supported in the study area. MACA has lease applications from all 42 cabin owners which it is hoping to approve in March.
There are currently three options to make the potential new recreational sites available: first come first served, a public lot draw and a public auction.
The department proposes to grandfather existing leaseholders under the existing terms of their leases – allowing the structures to remain in place until they are demolished by the owner, removed or significantly altered. Once the structures are rebuilt, they should comply with the new development controls.
Development controls
Development controls proposed by MACA include parcels of land not exceeding 1,200 square metres in area, land should be a minimum of 30 metres back from the shoreline and a parcel of Commissioner's land leased for recreational purposes should contain no more than one primary cabin and no more than two ancillary structures such as an outhouse, a storage shed or a wood crib.
Members of the public had issue with the limit of two ancillary structures on a parcel of land, and opted for it not to be included. Chamberlain said this was what the meeting was for – to get advice – and nothing was set in stone yet.
"We need the guidance," said Chamberlain.
"Everything you do with land administration or management of land is a calculated risk and anything to do with land is always quite emotional and quite controversial."
Some cabin owners questioned what would happen if the town took over parts of Commissioner's land where they would have leases.
Chamberlain said in 2009, MACA put forward a land sale agreement for the town's consideration.
"If the town takes that land, it will no longer be Commissioner's land. It will transfer to the municipality in simple interest. The lease, your interest in the land, would naturally transfer with the land," said Chamberlain.
"Your interests as leaseholders and cabin owners will always have some protection attached to it as it goes into the future."
Hans Maurer has owned a cabin on Airport Lake for more than 13 years and sat through the information session with other cabin owners.
"It was constructive, it was good. We've actually been talking for more than 10 years about getting something settled here. We knew it's coming to that. Here we are, now, trying to put it together."
There are several land interests around Airport Lake, including the town and the Gwich'in Tribal Council who are attempting to create a working group to discuss moving forward and managing ideas about the space.
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