Development permits take a dip in 2021

ATHABASCA – The number of development permits in the Town of Athabasca has slowed to a crawl this year and is shaping up to be the lowest the town has seen in several years. 

CAO Rachel Ramey presented council members with a quarterly summary of development permits in a comparison chart of 2020-2021 at the Nov. 2 council meeting, the first of the new term. It showed that by the end of the third quarter (June-September) last year there were 46 permits issued with a value of $1,481,071.96 and by the end of the year, seven more were added, for 53 valued at $1,875,771.96. In 2019, there were 43 developments overall, worth $2,017,090.50, with 38 coming in by the end of September that year. 

There have been 27 so far this year, valued at $583,718.78.  

“There has not been a lot in the last few years, but I think everybody understands the economic downturn and that COVID has slowed things down significantly,” Ramey said. 

There have been two permits for new homes so far this year though — both single-family manufactured homes — compared to one new single-family residence in 2020, and no new homes in 2019. There have been no permits issued for institutional, commercial, industrial or municipal developments in any of the last three years. Most have been for fences, decks, signs and for smaller developments categorized as ‘Other.’ 

Ramey pointed out in her report that the two manufactured homes were set up in Aspen Village and Athabasca Mobile Home Park along with the patio at Neighbours Pub; two towers were set up by telecom and Internet companies; and new signs at various businesses also went up.   

There have been five more other permits issued this year for building, gas, electrical, plumbing and private sewage projects than at this time last year — 55. 

The one question that did come up from council came from Coun. Sara Graling, who asked if a permit had been issued for a new grocery store in Cornwall, after she heard of a crudely-made sign announcing the new development on the land next to the APEX building. 

“I always say that it's a rumour until there's an application on my desk and there is no application on my desk,” Ramey replied. 

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