Several local residents have submitted letters to Prince Albert City Council opposing the sale of a parcel of land in Lake Estates for the development of rental units. (Charlene Tebbutt/paNOW Staff)

By Charlene Tebbutt

land sale opposition

Residents voice concern over plan for rental properties in Lake Estates

Mar 15, 2019 | 5:17 PM

Local residents are voicing concerns over plans to develop a series of rental units in an affluent gated community on the city’s west side.

Nearly a dozen residents with property at Lake Estates on South Hill have written letters to Prince Albert City Council over plans by developers to build a series of fourplexes on what is currently designated as park land.

City Councillors voted to sell the .66-acre parcel of land to the developers for $1 last month – despite a recommendation against the sale from city administration – saying the sale will generate much more in tax revenues for the city. The issue is set to be discussed again Monday evening at a public hearing at City Hall.

Residents who wrote letters to council say they were promised the area would be turned into a park space with trees and grass. Some even provided photos and drawings of what they say they were promised the space would look like.

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“We STRONGLY disagree with the sale of the .66 acres of land in lake Estates to the contractors for $1.00 or any other price if that matters!” one letter reads. “We bought this expensive piece of property with very high taxes because of its seclusion … we definitely do not want to lose the green space!”

Another couple who bought property in Lake Estates wrote in a letter to council that the addition of fourplexes would lower the value of her property.

“Rental units do not have pride of ownership as if one owned it,” the letter states. “If this proceeds, the circumstance under which I purchased the property is fraudulent.”

Other letter writers say the addition of park space at Lake Estates was aggressively marketed as a key selling feature.

“This park excited my wife and I the most and was the principle reason why we chose to make the biggest monetary investment of our lives into this condo,” one resident said. “Had my family and I wanted to be surrounded by heavily concentrated housing rather than green space, I assure you we would have purchased a home elsewhere in the city, almost certainly for a lower price and lower property tax.”

Other letter writers allege developers are using “dark arts” to market and sell condos at Lake Estates, while others say they will hesitate before recommending Prince Albert to professional colleagues. There are also a number of vacant lots and unsold lots in the development, meaning plans to build fourplexes are not well thought out, one letter goes on to say.

“There is certainly no shortage of homes in this area, and cramming more duplex/multiplex style buildings into that tiny parcel of land will do nothing but increase vacant real estate in the area,” the letter says.

Lawsuit

At least one resident is also suing the developers of Lake Estates, along with the realtor who marketed the properties and related construction companies. Marcel Simonot filed a lawsuit against Timber Valley Construction, Jovin Homes, G.R.W. Contracting Ltd. Chelco Investments Inc., Prince Albert Real Estate and the New Home Warranty Program of Saskatchewan in 2016.

Simonot, who bought a property in the gated community in 2014, alleges his condominium was built with shoddy construction materials and sub-par contractors, adding that the furnace, plumbing and electrical work have been negligent or carelessly installed. Simonot declined to comment further when contacted by paNOW, but in a letter going to city council this week, he said the housing units were constructed by “amateur developers.”

A statement of defence filed by the developers deny Simonot’s claims, saying any alleged deficiencies “were dealt with in a timely and professional manner,” although it was tough at times to access Simonot’s property. In a cross-claim, lawyers for the New Home Warranty Program have asked for their organization to be dropped from the lawsuit, saying Simonot failed to notify the NHWP of any deficiencies within the time set out in the contract.

None of the developers contacted by paNOW returned calls or messages requesting comment. One of the developers, Curtis Lemieux, has asked to speak at the city council meeting Monday.

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Charlene.tebbutt@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @CharleneTebbutt