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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE - The City of Yellowknife is considering opening a slot of land to development, located in the area along 54 Avenue near the Rockridge and Rockcliff apartment buildings and Tin Can Hill.

Councillors expressed early support for the idea during a priorities, policies and budget meeting last week.

"I was interested to see this ... In principle I am very supportive of seeing this," said city councillor Shelagh Montgomery.

Coun. Paul Falvo agreed, saying the city was in need of more medium-density housing in the downtown area, adding the whole area has the potential to link to the transit system in the future.

The move to change the zoning from growth management to residential medium density and open the parcel of land up to development was triggered by a recent proposal to develop the land. The city has received three proposals to develop the 3.7 acres of land from developers since 1996.

The most recent proposal is to build five two-storey eight-plex buildings, totalling 40 units, and one four-storey wood frame apartment building, totalling 110 units. The 40 units would be available for sale and the 110 units for rent.

If the city changed the zoning, however, there's a good chance the current proposal will face some competition. Once the land is opened, the city plans to start the request for proposals process for medium density housing.

Doug Ritchie of Ecology North said he heard the city was looking to open the area to development, but declined to comment before gauging where the Ecology North membership stood - guessing opinions could be all over the map.

Some people might take the opinion it's getting too close to Tin Can Hill, he said.

Lesley Singer, who lives in the School Draw area and walks her dog through Tin Can Hill every day, said she is very interested in what happens to the area. But she also trusts there are enough councillors in city hall who care about the area to ensure any future development is done right.

In December, city councillor Mark Heyck won the first step in a long-standing battle to rezone Tin Can Hall as a parks and recreation site, blocking residential development in the area for the years ahead.

"As long as the protections (go ahead) on Tin Can Hill, it shouldn't really make a difference," Singer said.

Singer added the type of development makes a difference, however. So long as any future development blends in with Rockridge and Rockcliff, "it shouldn't really make a difference," she said.

Not all councillors thought future development in the area was a good idea.

If the city allows for development it will "bring quite a few new units on to the market," said Coun. David Wind.

"I'm hard-pressed to spot a trend saying you're going to be able to absorb that many units," he added, pointing to a recent Canadian Mortgage and Housing Corporation presentation he attended.

City administration disagreed, contending there is a difference between the slow housing market and the demand for rental units in Yellowknife.

"(There is) a bit of pent-up demand for rental units. The vacancy rate is quite low," said Jeff Humble, director of planning and lands.

City administrator Max Hall added new development will mean potential opportunity "for supplying other types of housing units" within the city, saying not everybody is looking for a property at Niven Lake.

Coun. David McCann agreed it's important for Yellowknifers to have choice.

It could "suppress some of the wild pricing for which we are renowned in this town," he said.

Even if council directs administration to pursue a zoning change, however, the city must hold a public hearing before any amendment to the current bylaw can be made.

"The devil will be in the details as we move forward," said McCann.