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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
A plan to build homes on the north shore of Grace Lake passed first reading in city council chambers Monday night.

The development scheme calls for 30 detached dwellings to be built under a new zoning designation called "waterside residential." Council also voted in favour of 35 lots for light industrial and commercial use and some "accessory residential uses" on Enterprise Drive at the south corner of Kam Lake. Despite some quibbling, city council voted unanimously for the Grace Lake housing development.

"I'm very pleased this is coming forward and I think it is the first time I've been on council when there has been such an incredible range of housing types," said city councillor Mark Heyck, referring to city development in general these days. "These are very positive steps."

Coun. Bob Brooks called the development scheme "brilliant," saying it provided a good balance between private homeowners and the general public who he said will still have access to the lake. He pointed to plans to install a floating boardwalk that will be taken out every winter, and the creation of node parks where people can drop in their canoes or kayaks in the summer.

"I was happy because since 1991 we have been trying to present or make available some waterfront lots," he said. "Because of various reasons we have had trouble. I was happy to have these became available on (water) truck delivery, too, because it means we would not have to make water and sewer connection that could take another 10 to 20 years."

Some councillors did express concern about public access.

"My major concern was that the lot lines that front onto Grace Lake are going to go all the way down to the waterfront," said Coun. Shelagh Montgomery.

"Even if the city is going to put in a seasonal floating boardwalk that is public access, I thought given the work we have done on the harbour committee and how people are always saying that they want to retain public access to waterfront, that maybe lot lines shouldn't go all the way down to the water."

Brooks argued, however, that the floating boardwalk is a fair compromise.

"For the premium price, buyers expect to have access to the waterfront," he said.

The price of the approximately 30 by 100 metre lots - 15 of which will have direct access to the waterfront while the reminder will be across the street - will be determined by the bids the city receives for them. The city intends to sell the lots to the highest bidder through a ballot draw.

The housing will be required to meet environmentally-friendly design goals, including the incorporation of grey water recycling systems where homes will be required to recycle a minimum of 50 per cent of the trucked water delivered to homes, plus water-saving devices such as six-litre-per-flush toilets , low-flow shower heads and kitchen faucets set at 8.3 litres per minute.

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