Dyea campground host cabin in Dyea, Alaska. Photo by Mike Swasey.
The owners of the Chilkoot Trail Outpost filed a 14-page lawsuit on June 16, alleging the Dyea Campground Host Cabin was built illegally, without proper permitting or public input. And as such, they are asking a judge to order it removed or to keep it vacant until all permitting is acquired.
They are also seeking all court fees and legal costs associated with bringing the lawsuit and are asking for damages of an unspecified amount. Kathy Hosford complained to the Assembly last month that the cabin is unfair competition.
“The Municipality of Skagway has proceeded boldly, mostly behind closed doors, knowing the damage this would do to a small business like ours,” claimed Hosford.
A resolution passed by the Borough Assembly in June states that the cabin will be reserved for the campground host for the summer season and available for nightly reservations free of charge in the winter.
The Chilkoot Trail Outpost does not typically rent cabins during the winter.
The campground host cabin is a model 320 Pan Abode Homes kit structure. According to company officials, that kit comes with plans that follow the 2015 International Building Codes.
The Municipality hired PDC Engineering to design the foundation and all work on the project was completed by Doland Construction of Skagway. The company was awarded the contract in late September and finished the project late last year.
The contractor Charles Doland of Doland Construction said the municipality did not ask him to pull a building permit. There are also outstanding questions of whether the 320-square-foot cabin was inspected by the State Fire Marshall’s Office as required by law.
Currently, the cabin is being used as a staging area for the campground host with a table filled with various maps and brochures seemingly the only activity inside. The host lives in a personal RV nearby.
Skagway officials declined to comment citing the litigation.
