Richard Gleeson
Northern News Services

NNSL (Jun 05/98) - The groundwork is being developed for changes to the city's waterfront.

A study that will identify what changes need to be made is under way. Central to the study is the premise that there's a shortage of public access to Great Slave Lake.

"We're looking at all the changes and pressures, the trends and constraints, and trying to come up with a plan of action," said the city's senior planner, Monte Christensen.

Administration is taking its policy direction from the city's general plan and the Old Town secondary development scheme.

The 1991 Old Town scheme noted "there is a growing demand for marina facilities such as fuel, equipment, moorage, boat repair and maintenance."

The scheme referred to a 1985 questionnaire on waterfront usage. Among the things respondents identified as important was waterfront access. But a new private marina ranked among the least important.

The 1996 General Plan declares improved access to water bodies as one of the city's goals. Another is "the establishment of a continuous shoreline right-of-way wherever possible."

To gather public input for the latest study, the city distributed a survey along with water bills to 4,300 homes in April.

City staff are now assessing the 300 responses they received.

Questions were aimed at determined public use of the city's waterfront and opinions on existing launching, docking, mooring and parking facilities.

"In the next three weeks we're going to get at those and see if there's a common thread that runs through them," said Christensen.

According to an article in last month's edition of the city's newsletter, the planning and lands department already has the answers to some of the questions.

The article says there are more boaters, joggers, fishermen and tourists using the waterfront each year.

He added that public meetings will be held to gather further input, but no dates have been set yet.