Nathan VanderKlippe
Northern News Services

Yellowknife (Sep 04/02) - The city is hurrying through a development plan for Twin Pine Hill, with thoughts of a new resort and convention centre propelling the process.

Councillors signed off on first reading of a zoning proposal for the area at last Monday's council meeting.

A provisional map drafted by the city designates a specific area for commercial use that corresponds with space requested by Yellowknife River Resorts, the proponent of the project.

The northern tip of the hill will be rezoned old-town mix, opening up 3.4 hectares for development. Part of the old Bartam Trailer Court will be included in that rezoning.

Allowances for an access road to the southeast tip could also allow for construction on a 1.2-hectare plot of land zoned residential.

Residents can voice concerns about the project at a public hearing Monday at 7 p.m. in council chambers.

The city and Yellowknife River Resorts are currently negotiating behind closed doors on a plan to acquire that land for the convention centre. Although no details have been made available, councillors say the city is linking arms with the resort proponents.

"The city is trying to facilitate a development which we think works well for the city," said Coun. Dave McCann.

The city's map provides a five-hectare area for hotel use surrounded by a swath of 7.1 hectares of land zoned nature preserve. Any development on that land would need to be passed by city council and go through a public hearing.

"I envision it as the city of Yellowknife's Central Park. We're going to have this forever," said Coun. Robert Hawkins.

Plans for the resort call for a 160-room, upper-class hotel with a unique flowing design that would hug the side of Twin Pine Hill. The facility would have a bakery, indoor pool, several shops and a ballroom. The $25-million resort is being developed by a Sihka Developments, a partnership of four aboriginal groups: Denendeh Corp., Deton'Cho Corp., North Slave Metis Holdings and Nishi Khon Enterprises.

One major change to the land passed by city council is the designation of commercial use in the hotel area, which councillors have required as a conditionally permitted use. That means any commercial developments will need to be OK'd by council.

"I would hate to see a strip mall go up there.

"The land is premium land and we have to be very careful what goes there," said Coun. Ben McDonald, explaining the decision.

Margaret Gorman, who works with Denendeh Corp., said the changes matched with Sihka expectations.

"We don't want all kinds of other commercial activity happening there ... We're not going to be selling space, like a mall," she said.

The resort could be open as soon as February, 2004, she said.

"The building is very much going to be an aboriginal building in its design and aesthetics," Gorman said.

McCann said developing a convention centre is an important priority for the city.

"Over the longer haul, as the gold mines shut down, we are looking for ways and means of expanding our economic base. That means getting in and looking at tourism in a much more serious way," he said.