September 7, 2001

Trailers are trash, Apex residents say

Apex residents upset that process allowed two trailers in their community

MIRIAM HILL
Nunatsiaq News

IQALUIT — Madeleine Redfern says she won't be happy until someone moves two dilapidated trailer-homes that recently arrived in Apex.

Redfern lives in the small, mostly-residential satellite of Iqaluit. She's spearheading a push to have the trailers moved, and to find out why they were allowed there in the first place.

The mobile homes sit on land near Tarr Inlet. Siding, presumably damaged in the move, peels up from their bases. An orange and black for-sale sign sits propped in the window of the larger trailer.

Redfern and other residents are concerned that allowing trailers into Apex will set a precedent and lower Apex homeowners' property values.

A meeting was called Monday evening to discuss the dwellings.

"I called this meeting because several residents felt they weren't happy with the trailers. They're ugly," Redfern told the assembled crowd of about 30 people.

Twenty people signed a petition asking Iqaluit city council to review their decision allowing the trailers to be moved to Apex.

"They look like tin cans someone has taken a can-opener to," said a man in the crowd.

The trailer saga began before the current council was elected. Auyuittuq Development Inc., an Inuit-majority-owned company based in Pangnirtung, requested approval to put the trailers on the lots where they now sit.

The motion was rejected when it was brought to the new council in February.
Later that month, Baffin businessman Kenn Harper, vice-president of Auyuittuq Development Inc., wrote a letter appealing the decision.

"It is unreasonable for community members to be aware of these issues by osmosis."
- Madeleine Redfern, concerned Apex resident

City council's Development Appeal Board heard Harper's appeal March 8. The appeal board is a six-member appointed group, with the power to veto development decisions made by the elected council.

According to information provided by the board's chair, Coun. Chris Wilson, who abstained from the vote, the board decided to overturn the council decision because the use of lots was consistent with the zoning bylaw.

Iqaluit's senior administrative officer, Rick Butler, explained that in the bylaw, council has the discretion to allow mobile homes in that area.

Wilson also said the developer had nowhere else to put the mobile homes, since the designated trailer park in Iqaluit is full.

He said the Nunavut Housing Corporation has three empty lots held for public housing, but the corporation opted not to release those to the developer.

The developer is obligated to renovate the trailers, Wilson said, but so far that hasn't happened.

Redfern claims the city didn't follow the proper process to inform residents about the decision. Because of this, she said, the city should halt further development and conduct a review of its actions so far.

According to city bylaws, after a permit is granted to the developer, a sign must be posted on the site for 14 days to inform the public of what is being proposed.

Redfern said that after canvassing her neighbourhood, only one person she spoke to said they had seen the posted notice — and that was only for one day.

"It is unreasonable for community members to be aware of these issues by osmosis," Redfern wrote in a letter to Mayor John Matthews.

Wilson said the issue of notice has been noted by council in other developments as well, and is being addressed.

"Council already knows that (the requirements for notice were) woefully inadequate, because it amounts to an 8-by-10 yellow sheet of paper with the information on it," he said.

But that's not Redfern's only beef with the process. She wonders why an appointed body, such as the appeal board, would make a decision so incompatible with the wishes of the elected council.

Sytukie Joamie has lived in Apex most of his life. He said every seven or eight years there's some sort of development fight.

"It should be clear to the developer trying to develop trailers here… that we will fight it. It doesn't matter who the developer is," he said.

Butler said council can't overturn a decision made by the appeal board because the council itself has already been overruled.

Butler said it appears the only way the have the appeal board decision squashed is to take it to the Supreme Court of Nunavut.