Yellowknife (Sep 03/03) - Developers have been given "carte blanche" at the end of Ptarmigan Road, according to a resident of the street.

Andrew Fox made a presentation to council Monday with concerns about the blasting and sudden excavation and development of the area.

"I'm not against development per say -- the city's got a housing issue but what I'm concerned about is the kind of development that goes on without scrutiny and without adherence to the bylaws which are set out to guide development," Fox said.

Specifically, he said there are duties within bylaws which must accommodate the natural topography of the land such as rocks and trees.

"From my observation of what is going on out there, there is not even lip service given out according to the vague development permit given out.

"That's really what concerns me," Fox said.

Not only this particular development should undergo scrutiny, but the entire development process, as well, he said.

Dave Jones, city planner, said in this instance, he knew the existing landscape would be significantly altered.

"But we'll be looking for indications of how the landscaping will be inserted," Jones said.

Upon receipt of the developers' application, Jones said a development permit was issued.

"But we split the permit into two phases," he said.

The first phase includes the site work, while the second is for the home construction.

The development was approved based on a rough drawing of the location in which the construction is now occurring.

While the bylaw does require landscaping be part of development, Jones says that it is possible for a developer to go on site and remove the landscape and then replace it.

Council decided to further examine the zoning bylaw during a priorities and policies meeting Sept. 2.