Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 14/01) - City plans to rezone islands in Yellowknife's two bays could be reviewed. Rezoning would have allowed more development on Hideaway, Bear, Pillow and Mosher islands.

Monte Christensen: Changes proposed as part of waterfront management plan.

Monte Christensen, director of planning and lands for the city, said he "would have reconsidered rezoning every island in hindsight" after hearing public worries at a recent meeting.

Some people fear loosening the reigns of development on the islands will destroy the very thing which makes them so attractive.

"On the islands you feel seclusion," said Pierre Lebel, who lives on Otto Drive. "Why do they need to gentrify everything and put picnic tables and garbage cans and docks?"

The city proposed rezoning all four islands in Yellowknife and Back Bay from "nature preservation" to "parks and recreation."

Nature preservation zoning allows for very restricted development. Parks and recreation zoning allows for arenas and baseball diamonds with council approval, said Christensen.

Council will decide whether to go ahead with the rezoning at a council meeting on Oct 8. It will go before committee on Oct 2. Councillors said they can't comment until then.

Christensen said the changes were proposed as part of its waterfront management plan. It also followed a request from Raven Tours, who he said want to set up a permanent structure on Hideaway Island.

Currently Raven has a 60 person dome tent and a little cook-tent, allowed by the city under a temporary land use permit.

Raven Tours did not return phone calls as of press time.

Ray Bethke, who lives on 45th Street, questioned the city's need to change the zoning on all the islands.

"Opening up the remaining islands within the north end of Yellowknife Bay (to more development) will limit if not eliminate, flexible and affordable recreation use by residents seeking a remote island experience within a reasonable distance from town," he said.