SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - A question posed to the city about whether or not to allow a homeowner to expand their property so they can have a place to park their cars has caused tension among neighbours.

"It's definitely strained our neighbourly relations, Alan Udell, told the committee.

Udell said he's upset his neighbours at 3920 Ragged Ass Road did not consult him before approaching the city with their request, and added his neighbours have been using the area in question without permission since they moved in in 2008.

Hendrik Falck told the committee he just wants somewhere to park his vehicles.

Falck and his wife live on Ragged Ass Road and said the space for parking on their property was lost when the city widened the roadway in 1997.

The area in question is directly beside the Falck's home and is part of a 12-metre-wide right of way, which is meant to allow space for large vehicles to manoeuvre on the already narrow roadway.

The Falck's have applied with the city to add 5.2 metres of the right of way to their own property for the purpose of parking their two vehicles.

The space they're trying to gain is the area required to park two vehicles side by side as regulated in the city's zoning bylaw.

There is also a small trail at the back of the right of way that neighbours were concerned might not be available to the public should the extra land be granted to the Falcks.

Hendrik Falck said the area where his family currently parks has been used by past owners of the house since the 1970s, and said they were prompted to apply to acquire the land from the city when neighbours complained.

"It prompted us to put in the application to correct what we knew was an unsatisfactory arrangement and these are our solutions," he said.

Falck maintained he wants to work with the city and his neighbours to find a solution that makes everyone happy.

"As far as other uses of the land, we are open and amenable to alternatives," Falck said.

Concerns from neighbours about extending the Falcks' property voiced at the committee meeting Monday included ensuring a right of way adjacent to their property be kept as spacious as possible to allow for large vehicles - including emergency vehicles - to manoeuvre easily in the area.

Mike Byrne, one of the Falcks' neighbours, said he was concerned about fire truck access to the area, especially because there are no accessible fire hydrants in the area and water must be trucked in, particularly during the winter when snow drifts narrow the roadway further.

According to a memorandum document from the meeting, there is no such issue.

"The width left over in the ROW (right of way) provides adequate space for manoeuvrability... At 6.8 metres, the ROW (right of way) will be wider than most lanes in the downtown residential areas," according to the document.

The document cited correspondence with the fire department over potential issues extending the Falcks' property line might cause and said it would not hinder fire-fighting capabilities.

Byrne also made reference to what he called a lack of waterfront access in the city and suggested the city retain ownership of the area in question to make sure the informal trail to the area stays public.

"I would suggest you might want to keep this one in your hip pocket," he said.

In the memorandum, the city discussed rezoning the area immediately adjacent to the Falcks' proposed parking area as nature preserve, which would ensure an informal trail leading to a marsh area on the Great Slave Lake waterfront would be protected against development and would remain open for public use.

A final decision on the matter has yet to be reached, and discussions between Ragged Ass Road residents and the city will continue at the next municipal services committee meeting.

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