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SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Two years after the process to re-zone Tin Can Hill as a park began, the popular greenspace near School Draw Avenue is one step away from becoming a no-development zone.

In 2009, city council began the rezoning process for the 33-hectare piece of land, passing first reading and holding a public hearing on the issue. At the time, according to information presented at the Nov. 14 city council meeting, many citizens supported rezoning the area to Parks and Recreation (PR) from Growth Management (GM).

However, the council of the day chose to defer second reading of the bylaw until completion of the Yellowknife Smart Growth Plan - a 50-year vision statement for the future development of the city.

On Monday, the process resumed and council passed second reading of Bylaw 4258 to rezone Tin Can Hill.

"It is significant in that this is what people in the community said they wanted and this is what council passed," Mayor Gord Van Tighem said of the decision.

"If people want to one day decide to develop it and make a big push to do it, it would probably come back on the agenda. But for now it is a park."

Where the first reading passed without debate in 2009, second reading sparked discussion around the council table.

Councillors David Wind, Amanda Mallon, Lydia Bardak, Mark Heyck, Shelagh Montgomery, and Paul Falvo all supported moving forward, while Coun. Cory Vanthuyne was the lone voice of opposition. Coun. Bob Brooks was absent.

Wind said the issue had been "dogging" council for a long time and added he supported second reading because it both reflected public sentiment and also the city's needs at this point in time.

"For the time being, and as it is indicated in the General Plan, there is sufficient land in other areas of the city that should be developed before Tin Can Hill," he said.

Wind, however, proposed an amendment to second reading to rezone Tin Can Hill as a natural area preservation - offering the area a greater level of protection from change. He said he was disappointed other councillors did not support the idea, since it would preserve the area's natural setting.

Coun. Cory Vanthuyne expressed frustration. He said the motion limited possibilities for exploring how that land could be used to meet other city requirements.

"I'm concerned about putting such a large parcel of waterside, intercity land essentially under lock and key," he said. Vanthuyne added the area might be ideal for facilities such as universities or colleges or a centre for the arts, adding in the future the city will have to determine where to locate a library, a science and technology center or other conference facilities.

"Having space available for these types of centres, in my opinion, is critical for future and sustainable growth," he said.

Coun. Shelagh Montgomery said she supported second reading in order to show the public that its views were being represented, especially after the August 2009 public hearing. She also opposed a suggestion made at the Municipal Services committee meeting the week before by Coun. Bob Brooks. He pushed to defer second reading until the 2011 General Plan was considered later this year.

"It is all about closing this public hearing," she said. "At the time when (the bylaw) came before council ... it was decided by a majority on council that because of the Smart Growth process that a delay of second reading should happen until the smart growth plan was completed. It was completed. There wasn't a recommendation by council that council wait for second reading until the general plan of 2011 is completed. That is another process that is ongoing."

The rezoning bylaw must now go through third reading and meet ministerial approval before passing into law.

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