Town council discusses subdivision proposal
Malcolm Gorrill
Northern News Services
Inuvik (Feb 09/01) - Town council expressed concerns about a proposed subdivision at a special meeting Jan. 31.
On hand to field questions from Mayor Peter Clarkson and several councillors were Sam Kassem, president of Northern Management, and Mohamed Mokled, architect with Northern Engineers and Architects.
Much of the discussion centred around a request by Northern Management for the town to turn over land free of charge for the project.
Clarkson said council was reluctant to do so, in part because it would set a precedent for future development. Deputy mayor Arlene Hansen echoed his comments.
Kassem said that with the high cost of development here, the subdivision will not be economically feasible if his company has to buy the land.
The land in question is undeveloped, and Kassem pointed out the town is not being asked to help fund the project, so the developer carries all the risk.
Kassem also said a performance bond could guarantee each stage of the project.
The proposal calls for the subdivision to be built in five stages. The first four stages would cost between $3-4 million each, with the last phase costing between $5-6 million.
Northern Management has approached both the Inuvik Community Corporation and the Nihtat Development Corporation for funding.
Coun. Don Craik asked whether the utilidor system was efficient. He also wondered if the cul de sacs would be more expensive in terms of removing snow.
Council members noted that the town will have to maintain the utilidor and other services in the subdivision once it's completed.
"We believe it's just as efficient as any other place in town," Kassem said of the design. "If we can't be efficient in our design, then we can never do it."
Kassem noted the proposal is still in a draft stage, but that many people had worked on it. He said the company can't spend $200,000-$300,000 to complete the design without having approval from council of the project.
Clarkson said that, in general, council doesn't like to discourage developers, but that they had to bear in mind potential costs to taxpayers, as well as the housing needs of the community.
"We're not developers, we don't see ourselves as developers," Clarkson said.
Craik agreed, saying, "I don't think any of us is opposed to the concept."
At the end of the meeting council agreed to summarize concerns they still had and send them to Northern Management, so that Kassem can again appear before council next week and answer more questions, if necessary.
The committee of the whole meeting takes place Monday, and council's regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 14.
