Banff affordable housing development approved by municipal commission

The town of Banff has got a green light from the municipal planning commission to build an affordable housing development as the resort community struggles with high rents and low vacancy.

Earlier in December, the commission approved a project being developed by the town for 14 lots that were released by Parks Canada in 2015.

The project is still subject to appeal. The town of Banff says two appeals had been received as of Wednesday afternoon.

Sharon Oakley, housing sustainability coordinator, says the lack of affordable housing has been a constant problem for the town, which has been constrained from growing by the fact that it's located in a national park.

Now that the municipal planning commission has approved the project, Oakley hopes to see some solutions for those struggling to find housing.

She says she's seen a single mother with two teenaged boys living in a makeshift apartment in a parkade filled with exhaust fumes, and a person who was living in the garage of a friend that had no plumbing or heating.

At the seniors' centre in town, Oakley says it was common to find mattresses stored under the ramp by women in their 50s living in their cars during the winter.

• Banff may be a mountain paradise — but housing crisis more 'dire' than ever
• Bow Valley housing helpers offer discount rooms, online advice
• Banff tries to lead the way to affordable housing solution

She says the economic downturn caused by low oil and gas prices has made things worse.

The town of Banff has been administered by the federal government for more than a century, and was incorporated as an Alberta municipality in 1990.

Still, the town remains a part of Banff National Park, meaning the federal government retains ownership of all land and the municipality is subject to the National Parks Act.

• MORE ROCKIES NEWS | Car-licking moose prompts warning in southern Alberta
• MORE CALGARY NEWS | Calgary couple's solar-powered apothecary stolen in B.C.