Council Briefs
No planes at Old Town park dock
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Friday, March 18, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Councillors voted in favour Monday evening of keeping float planes and other motorized craft from tying up at the new Hank Koenen Park on Wiley Road when it is finished.
The park, named after a Second World War pilot who owned an air charter businesses formerly on the lot, is at 3526 Wiley Rd.
The approval of the park as designated for only non-motorized craft came after several people spoke to council calling on them to allow the planes.
NWT Float Plane Association president Hal Logsdon again appeared before council saying the group wants to be able to dock visiting float planes there.
"We have an excellent opportunity before us to create an interesting space for itinerant float planes and for day uses as well," Logsdon said.
Ray Decorby, who also spoke about the issue last week, reiterated that he doesn't believe safety concerns should limit use of the site.
Councillors didn't appear swayed.
Coun. Shauna Morgan said she sees a need for a place for groups like the paddle board club to access the water.
"I really feel the best use for this park is as it's been presented," Coun. Julian Morse said.
Couns. Niels Konge and Steve Payne said they support planes in that location.
Couns. Rommel Silverio, Morgan, Rebecca Alty and Morse voted in favour of the non-motorized use. Couns. Konge and Payne voted against.
Tiny homes torpedoed at Hordal-Bagon
Tiny homes won't find a home among a 2.18 hectare development planned between Hordal Road and Bagon Drive after council torpedoed the idea Monday. Tiny homes have been gathering increased attention as a smaller-footprint style of housing.
City staff brought to council the next steps in the so-called Hordal-Bagon land development, which included approving first reading of the design scheme, and asked staff to put construction work out to tender.
The development will have 26 lots large enough for single-family homes or trailer homes along with two small parks.
Prior to the vote, director of planning and development Jeff Humble floated the idea of including zoning to allow tiny homes. If it had been approved, it could have increased the potential density to 52 units of both tiny homes and single-family homes.
"They're quite sizable lots and they provide a lot of flexibility for development," Humble said while raising the "flex" zoning option. However, it was pointed out by staff that it wasn't necessarily the ideal location for tiny homes given its location in the city.
The discussion became mired in procedural questions about the timeline for the development. Humble said if they opted for tiny-home zoning, the city should hold public consultations with neighbours which could push the timeline for finishing the development back to 2017.
Council decided Monday evening to move ahead with just single-family homes in the development and to direct staff to go ahead with construction tenders.
A public hearing on the development scheme bylaw will take place at city hall March 29 at 7 p.m.
The estimated cost of installing water and sewer lines and roadwork is $2.24 million.
Coun. Niels Konge declared a conflict because he owns land in the area and left the room for debate and votes.
Couns. Rommel Silverio, Julian Morse, Rebecca Alty and Shauna Morgan voted in favour of moving ahead on the development.
Undeveloped Niven land to be reassessed
Council has asked staff to have undeveloped properties along Niven Drive reassessed as staff brought forward a plan to sell the land at a discount from its listed price.
The request, initiated by Coun. Niels Konge, came as staff brought forward a proposal to drop the listed sale price of the vacant land overlooking Back Bay.
The land in question was the site of Bond Street Ventures's failed development. The land was subdivided into five parcels with each priced at $7.8 million. Three remain unsold.
A second part of the request would have increased the density for one lot between Niven Drive and Lemay Drive from 14 units to 20 and sold it to Redcliffe Developments.
Humble said Redcliffe's original proposal for the sale had the price by cut by 25 per cent and increasing the density to 20 units. The city negotiated to more favourable terms before bringing the idea to council, Humble said, adding the developer isn't interested at a lower density.
Konge said there's already been public engagement done about density and argued that neighbours bought into the area with an understanding of the scale of development that could happen.
"For us to just go in and increase density really undermines the time people have put in to voice their opinions on developments," he said.
The appraisal could take between two and eight weeks said Jeff Humble, director of planning and development.
Coun. Shauna Morgan was the only one to vote against the reappraisal motion.-
