SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A bylaw before council will create two categories of heritage sites, making it easier to acknowledge a building's significance without demanding owners keep its original design.

"Recognized" sites won't be subject to the same building regulations as "designated" sites.

"With the recognized sites, it's more about researching and commemorating sites without the more stringent requirements of a designation. There can still be a plaque but there aren't as many restrictions on what they can do with the building," said city councillor Mark Heyck.

Under the old bylaw, owners could choose not to have a property designated. Heyck says recognized sites will still be documented and can have plaques but they won't require the same development permits as designated sites.

There will also be a scoring system based on historical character, original materials, the historical significance of the building or people who lived there and current state of the building.

Designated sites must score higher than recognized sites.

Heyck said the city will continue to track development permits at recognized sites but renovations wouldn't have to be approved by city council or the heritage committee.

"It's a way of maintaining an inventory of the heritage sites," said Heyck.

Council passed two readings of the bylaw. The third will take place at the next council meeting on Oct. 26.

Bike racks on the block

Yellowknife is one vote away from mandating developers provide bicycle parking in new buildings.

None of the councillors at the Sept. 14 meeting opposed the second reading of the bylaw to include bike racks as a building regulation.

In order to receive a building permit, developers will have to show they're prepared to designate space for bikes in commercial and high-density residential complexes.

"We felt that this was something that is necessary. People are tired of having poor bike racks," said Doug Ritchie, program director at Ecology North. He believes the bylaw will be good for businesses.

"A lot of people like to bring their bikes. If they have good quality bike racks there that are thoughtfully laid out in convenience spots, more people will take their bikes," said Ritchie. "I hope it'll go through."

Curling clubbing

The city may soon be renewing their lease agreement with the Yellowknife Curling Club.

At a Community Services meeting on Sept. 14, Mayor Gord Van Tighem said he recently visited Collingwood, Ont., a town of similar size to Yellowknife, where the curling club's membership was flourishing with 800 members. He said he didn't see any reason why Yellowknife's club couldn't be equally successful.

The city has previously leased the club for 20 years in an agreement that expired in Sept.ember 2008. The Community Services committee heard a presentation in May that the club has been operating with a $60,000 deficit for the past five years.

The proposal to renew the lease went before council last Monday night and no one opposed the first two readings.