Terry Kruger
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Apr 12/00) - Would-be hotel developer Vaughn del Valle says he will take his fight over a city-wide zoning bylaw to the minister of municipal affairs after council closed the door on his complaint about lack of public input.

del Valle was back before council Monday, saying the city hasn't proved to his satisfaction that it has followed the rules in dealing with the zoning bylaw.

The bylaw went to public hearing Jan. 17, and received second reading Feb. 28, ending opportunity for public input. When council met March 27, del Valle argued that meetings weren't advertised in accordance with the Cities, Towns and Villages Act and other sections, and because of that, the second reading is invalid.

The challenge is over council's refusal to accept a 650-name petition supporting del Valle's proposal for a hotel on his Back Bay property. In the zoning bylaw, the property remains residential, a move supported by people living in the Back Bay area, who don't support the hotel proposal.

In response, the city issued a press release saying it has followed the rules and allowed plenty of time for public input.

del Valle called the press release "one of the finest examples of sophistry, half-truths and deflective argument since Clinton redefined sex."

After the meeting, del Valle said he had "no choice" but to take his allegations to the minister because "statutes have been broken.

"I wouldn't have gone this far if I was planning on giving up."

Council did have an opportunity to re-open public input but a motion by Coun. Bob Brooks to reconsider second reading of the zoning bylaw died on the floor when it failed to receive a seconder.

Later, Brooks said he was surprised his colleagues didn't even want the opportunity to discuss the matter.

"I thought they might have wanted to hear why we should reconsider (second reading)," said Brooks, who added there are others besides del Valle who would like to provide further comment on the zoning bylaw.

"It did go through the full process, but it's clear more people wanted to have a say."

del Valle wasn't surprised that councillors didn't want to re-open debate.

"I guess that's city politics."

Despite council's unwillingness to seek new public input, del Valle can still come back to council to seek rezoning for his property.