Mountain Park Lodges (MPL) and the Jasper Downtown Hostel want to expand.
MPL wants to build a new hotel at 78 Connaught Dr.鈥攖he site of the old Esso gas station. The company applied to have the former gas station rezoned a tourist commercial district, Aug. 18.
MPL chief financial officer Mike Wetmore went before the Planning and Development Advisory Committee (PDAC), explaining the company鈥檚 vision to develop a 54 unit commercial hotel and a 50 unit staff accommodation.
鈥淚f approved, the hotel would face Connaught Drive,鈥� Wetmore said. 鈥淲e鈥檒l have internalized parking and a free standing residential building towards the rear of the site.鈥�
While nothing was approved at the meeting, MPL president John Day said he would like to see this project started sooner rather than later.
鈥淲e鈥檇 like to build this as quickly as possible,鈥� Day said.
At the same PDAC meeting, the Jasper Downtown Hostel also announced its desire to expand.
The nearly year-old hostel currently contains 31 beds, but co-owner Johanne Roy said the company would like to add 32 new beds next year. The expansion would also include a lounge, guest kitchen, lobby and two bedrooms for staff accommodation.
鈥淭his will allow us to serve our guests better,鈥� Roy said.
To make room for the new beds and extra rooms, Roy said the hostel would like to tear down its current garage and carport, located at the back of the building.
鈥淭he attachment would be completely new,鈥� Roy said.
Due to the increase in beds, the hostel is also looking for a few additional parking spaces.
The hostel currently has seven parking stalls, but would like to see that number bumped up to 11.
According to Parks Canada regulations, a hostel is allowed one parking spot for every four beds.
Therefore, the hostel could ask for up to 16 spots if the expansion is approved.
鈥淲e just don鈥檛 need that many spaces,鈥� Roy said in a follow-up interview. 鈥淎 lot of our guests are coming in by bus or by bike or by hitchhiking. This is the way of the future鈥攜ou鈥檙e not going to see every person need a parking spot.鈥�
Roy also added that the hostel is looking into the viability of installing an electric car charger.
After Roy finished her presentation, PDAC read two letters of opposition regarding the hostel鈥檚 parking needs.
鈥淭he success of this business has resulted in a significant increase of traffic in the area. 聽As a result of this success there is also a noticeable decrease in parking availability on the streets,鈥� read a letter from Jasper residents Beth and Chris LeBlanc.
鈥淧arking has always been a premium in this area, however...now there鈥檚 rarely a parking stall anywhere in sight.
鈥淩esidents are often forced to park up to a block away from their own home.鈥�
Jasperite Neil Wilson also wrote to the committee with his concerns.
鈥淧arking seems to be an issue throughout the town and there needs to be a better answer than just granting variances,鈥� read Wilson鈥檚 letter. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 understand why this company should get two variances.鈥�
Before opening last November, the hostel鈥檚 owners had appeared before PDAC to request a variance on the number of required parking stalls on the site.
PDAC now has a month to make a decision on both proposals.
Kayla Byrne
[email protected]
