by P.J. Harston
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jan 29/97) - Longtime residents of the Forrest Drive and Ptarmigan Road neighborhood aren't thrilled that condos are being planned for their back yard.

And they're angry at city administrators for jumping the gun on acquiring a key piece of commissioner's land that might be used as an access road for the proposed development.

City Council passed the first reading of a bylaw Monday that, if passed after a public hearing and two more readings, will pave the way for medium-density residential development on the land.

However, local businessman Chong Park told concerned residents at the meeting they have nothing to fear.

"Physically we cannot put 70 units in the area because that type of development would not be marketable," said Park.

The 2.37 hectare parcel of land, previously owned by Telesat Canada, is now zoned for institutional development.

That means churches, hospitals, schools or other public-type buildings can be constructed on it.

Yellowknife Properties Ltd., which now owns the land, and developers Park, Sanders, Adam, Viske Architects Ltd. have requested council re-zone the land so they can go ahead with their project.

Yellowknife Properties Ltd. president Gary Vivian told council the development would probably increase neighborhood property values, slightly increase traffic patterns and put some pressure on area schools.

Forrest Drive resident Kevin O'Reilly, one of three area residents who addressed council, said he is worried that development will lower property values and ruin a quiet neighborhood.

"When we bought the house the land was zoned institutional. We never thought it would become a 50-condo unit, we though it would become a church or a community centre or something like that," said O'Reilly.

He presented council with a petition opposing the re-zoning signed by a majority of neighborhood residents.

Alderman Jo MacQuarrie agreed with O'Reilly and was the lone dissenter in council's vote. Alderman Blake Lyons was absent from the meeting.

"I have a problem with it. People buy houses expecting they're away from large developments," said MacQuarrie.

"And I don't believe the city has room for another building development such as this."

However, Alderman Trevor Kasteel noted that council has plenty of time to study the situation, which needs "a lot more consideration."

Some infrastructure concerns in the area also may need to be addressed by council.

Meanwhile, city administrators were peppered with questions from councillors regarding an application to acquire the small parcel of land that may become an access road for the development.

But administrators assured council that any final decision on the acquisition of the land had to be made by council at a public council meeting.