SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - Float plane pilots may be getting new parking spots on Kam Lake, but the president of the Northwest Territories Float Plane Association says the city should still consider providing better public docking facilities elsewhere in town for tourists.

Hal Logsdon, president of the Northwest Territories Float Plane Association, wants to lease part of the Kam Lake shoreline for a float plane base. He says there are very few waterfront spots available. - Elizabeth McMillan/NNSL photo

"The city has to do some planning if they want to ensure that the public has access to the waterfront," said Hal Logsdon.

He said if people had a place to dock their float plane, they'd be more likely to visit.

"Unfortunately, I think the word has gotten around, that if you go to Yellowknife, you're out of luck."

A bylaw before currently before council would allow part of the Kam Lake shoreline to be leased to the association for a float plane base.

The group approached the city about finding a suitable dock location in 2004. Logsdon said the float plane association originally wanted to establish a base in Old Town, but there wasn't enough space.

"There's a few properties that could be used for a few docks but we're going to run out of room on Back Bay," said Logsdon.

"Any future docks in Back Bay should be for tourists, its right in the heart of the city. Kam Lake is kind of out of the way." He said the Kam Lake float plane base would be primarily for members, most of whom now use private docks like he does.

"We're looking at it as expansion for the future rather than immediate need," he said. "We don't expect a mass arrival." Logsdon said tourists will be welcome to use the association's dock if other options weren't available.

"The more immediate needs are for people who are visiting," he said. "It's quite frustrating for a visitor to come in here and realize there's no parking at all."

If the lease agreement with the city goes ahead, the association hopes to have a marina up and running next summer with dock space for five or six planes.

He said the Kam Lake location isn't ideal, adding there is only one public access road to the shoreline, but said the lake's proximity to the airport and it's relatively sheltered position make it a good place to take off.

At a Municipal Services committee meeting on Sept. 8 and the Sept 14 council meeting, people living in the Kam Lake area spoke against the proposal.

Carol Beck was frustrated council hadn't addressed a petition signed by 25 Kam Lake residents and said she didn't "want the city subsidizing a small user group of six airplanes."

"I don’t agree with rezoning for people who don’t have to sit and listen to those planes, they should put them where they live," said Beck, a dog musher. “The dogs will not like the planes landing overheard … people complain already the dogs bark too much, that’s just going to enhance that problem."

"We should be promoting public use of that space. If we're going to promote any kind of tourism, it should be eco-tourism," she said.

Frank Kelly, who previously leased the land in question and whose property borders the area, said he wasn't concerned with the proposal as long as he still had access to the shoreline.

Logsdon said the concerns are "more fear than reality" but said the association could encourage pilots to take off further away from homes when the weather permits.

"Theoretically, since it's in an industrial area, it should bother fewer people than in Old Town," he said.

He said worries about the noise were greatly exaggerated and said the small planes would make much less noise than jets at the nearby airport.

Council passed the first reading of a re-zoning bylaw on Sept. 14.

There will be a public hearing before the second reading, which will happen after municipal elections in October.