No permit yet for hotel project
Nova highway development waiting on piping plans
Simon Whitehouse
Northern News Services
Published Friday, July 18, 2014
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Mike Mrdjenovich of Nova Builders still does not have a building permit for a proposed hotel on Highway 3, but the federal government has made the developer aware of birding concerns raised by local residents.
Bruce MacDonald, a local biologist and manager with the Canadian Wildlife Service, said he has already met with Mrdjenovich after public concerns were raised. MacDonald said he wanted to ensure the developer was not harming the habitat of birds in the Niven Lake area when using heavy equipment on the lot.
"Our main goal is to minimize the risk of development to migratory birds and to maintain sustainable populations of those birds," said MacDonald, adding he met with a Nova Builders representative within the last month. "To achieve that, we want to minimize any sort of disturbance during the breeding period."
MacDonald said he referenced the Migratory Birds Convention Act to ensure that the developer's actions weren't effecting nesting activities or egg laying over the spring and summer. This could be done from such activities as clearing trees or running machines through vegetation, said MacDonald.
MacDonald said it is his job to advise the developer and ask that he follow the guidelines which protects birds. Mrdjenovich says his work won't harm birds.
"It has nothing to do with the birds," he said of his building project. "Birds are more on the lake, 300 to 400 feet away (from the hotel). It is unrelated property and we aren't bothering the birds. "
To date, Mrdjenovich still doesn't have a permit from the city, however he has been blasting rock in recent weeks and clearing part of the huge lot for development purposes. The company had planned to have the building and outside work begun so that it could be done by wintertime. Mrdjenovich says that goal is not likely to be met now.
City planning and economic development director Jeff Humble said the obstacles preventing the development permit are not great.
"The issue right now is that we are waiting for the specifications for the water and sewer connection," said Humble. "That includes the layout from 49th Avenue, the hookups, the elevation and so on. We have indicated there are two options, one that he agrees conditionally that all that information be provided, or two, that he provide that information prior to issuing this second development permit component."
City and water lines are expected to cross the highway and come behind the visitor's centre and the developer will need easement agreements from the GNWT.
The Department of Transportation was unable to confirm if an approval was made for these easements by press time.
Humble said the city will post the permit to the public once the permit is approved. At that time, people can appeal the decision for development.
