Tara Kearsey
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Aug 30/00) - Thunderous applause erupted from the gallery in city hall as council voted down the sale of the former Bartam Trailer Court to developer Mike Mrdjenovich.

More than 50 anxious Yellowknifers watched as the 4-2 vote opposing the sale was recorded by Mayor Dave Lovell.

Earlier that evening, eight members of the public presented final pleas to council, including former mayor Pat McMahon, requesting a comprehensive study be conducted to determine the best use for the city-owned land.

"This jewel (Bartam) belongs to the people of this community, not to city council," said Dave Gilday, one of many citizens who demanded the land be preserved for public use.

"People are asking to be given the opportunity to participate in planning the future of a piece of land that has meaning."

Councillor Alan Woytuik voted in favour of the sale, stating every time a piece of land is cited for development the public demands it be used for a park.

"I wouldn't mind saying 'yeah, lets make it a park' if I knew that was the end of it, but I am certain that the next piece of ground that we propose for development, we would hear the same thing," he said.

Woytuik said he doesn't disapprove of public parks, but they need to be funded and supported by development.

Councillor Bob Brooks also voted for the sale. In the past, he said he had been pushing to include Bartam in the city's waterfront study and later to delay the call for development proposals, but that vision was not shared by a majority of council.

Brooks said now that a proposal has been submitted for council approval, it's too late to turn back the clock.

Citizens would still have an opportunity to speak out on the development when public hearings are held during the re-zoning process, he said.

Councillor Cheryl Best abstained, declaring a "perceived" conflict of interest. (Story on A4.)

Sale a mistake

But Councillors Kevin O'Reilly, Robert Slaven, Ben McDonald and Blake Lyons said to ignore the public and sell the land to Mrdjenovich now would be a mistake.

Lyons was concerned Bartam could become another "Centre Square."

"If we pass this as it is right now, we're going to send out mixed messages," he said. "We have to ensure that anything we do will be appreciated not only now, but in the future."

O'Reilly had been concerned about disposing of Bartam from the very beginning. He apologized to Mrdjenovich and blamed himself and all of council for rushing the issue.

"There wasn't much time, there wasn't much notice to the public," he said. "The problem is with the proposal request and, I think, the kind of planning that should have been done before it went out."