Yellowknife (May 09/03) - Emotions ran high as Yellowknifers filled the City Hall boardroom to view the city's waterfront redevelopment project Wednesday.

Maps created by landscape architect Karen LeGresly of Avens Associates were posted along the walls revealing what the waterfront might look like.

Paul Laserich, general manager of Adlair Aviation, said he is disappointed to see the dock for his float plane isn't in the plans.

"I asked Karen where my dock was and she said, 'It's gone,'" said Laserich.

"If you ask me, that's a piss poor attitude of the city."

"The city has better things to do, like pay the arena debt," Laserich added.

Yellowknifers were encouraged to share their issues on a comment sheet, but Mayor Gord VanTighem and several city council members were present to hear concerns.

"I've heard a variety of views expressed from the people living in these areas today, but I know there are people who live uptown that feel they don't have access to those areas," said Coun. Kevin O'Reilly.

"The city owns that land," he said.

Slated to begin construction this year are Latham Island West Park and the Willow Flats area. Plans were also revealed for the Back Bay Wetlands and the Fault Lake-Back Bay area, which will begin construction next year.

Most of the frustrated citizens came from Morrison Drive on Latham Island.

West Park redevelopment plans cut through backyards and affect boat docks.

"The real question here is how many times do we have to come here and say 'no' to the proposal and then they ask us again?" said Ray Weber who lives on Morrison Drive.

"We've already went through this a year ago. And this proposal, with the exception of an outhouse, is the exact same one, that we saw and said, 'not on your life to," Weber added.

Morrison Drive resident Don Kindt said he was told there would be two different versions of the waterfront available for viewing - one version showing the boardwalk and another with only parks in the plan, but the boardwalk was the only one posted at the meeting.

"City administrators agreed to present two variations. Why were the residents mislead?" Kindt wondered.

Kindt also said he feels Morrison Drive residents support access to the water, but believe it is best accomplished through small parks.

John Stephenson who lives on Latham Island, but not in the affected zones, said he thinks the areas are now privately used and should be adapted to welcome the public.

"If I had access to a boardwalk as proposed I would use it all the time, but at the same time I think it's important to respect the folks in the area and balance the use," Stephenson said.

Several Rotary Club members also came to the meeting because they are sponsoring the development of a park in the Willow Flats area.

"Our interest is limited to the two areas that flank the Dettah ice road. We want to see what the club can do to enhance the area," said a Rotary spokesperson.

Comments submitted at the meeting will be taken under consideration by council. There will be a follow-up meeting next month.