Councillors support motorized craft at new Old Town park
City staff plan proposed only non-motorized craft be allowed to dock at Hank Koenen Park in Old Town
Shane Magee
Northern News Services
Wednesday, March 9, 2016
SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
Several city councillors appear poised to reject administration's plan to limit a park along Wiley Road in Old Town to non-motorized craft.
The debate on float plane parking, ongoing for years, returned Monday afternoon at the municipal services committee meeting as city staff recommended not allowing float planes or motorized boats at Hank Koenen Park at 3526 Wiley Rd.
The park is named after a pilot in the Second World War who later ran an air charter company from the site.
The staff proposal was based on survey results showing opposition to float planes at the planned docks.
A series of public speakers, most against the city's proposal, called for second thoughts.
Hal Logsdon, president of the NWT Float Plane Association, said the group wants the park used to dock visiting float planes, not aircraft based in the city.
He said the city is missing its chance to develop float plane tourism because of limited docking for visiting planes.
Though the city staff report noted it had recently secured waterfront leases around the McMeekin Causeway which could be developed, Logsdon said the area is already in use and busy.
"We submit that this section is merely a baum, meant to sooth our disappointment and kick this issue down the road," Logsdon said.
Logsdon reiterated his call for the city to develop a permitting system for float plane docking which would assign specific spots for specific planes.
Jeff Humble, the city's director of planning and development, said another city staff plan for float plane parking along Latham Island between Otto Drive and Watt Drive on Back Bay is expected to come to council in about a month. He said that could help address some of the concerns about float plane parking.
This suggestion did not appear to address the concerns of Logsdon, who suggested the Wiley Road site was the most appropriate location for visiting float planes.
Coun. Niels Konge said he won't support the Hank Koenen Park proposal as is, largely because of issues Logsdon pointed to.
"If we're going to spend money on a future park development, we should be inclusive in our park development," he said.
Konge said float plane tourism is something he's behind.
"This is a segment of tourism we're not catering to, not even a little bit," Konge said.
Others opposed to the staff proposal included resident Ray Decorby.
"The decision to not allow motorized craft in this area influenced by safety, I don't think is appropriate," Decorby said, adding he believes motorized boats and planes should be allowed to park there.
"I believe this dock should be opened up to as much usage as possible," Decorby said.
Great Slave Yacht Club president Evan Wall, in favour of the staff proposal, pointed to safety concerns if the site is opened to non-motorized uses.
An agreement between the city and the Great Slave Yacht Club, which has an adjoining property with a refueling station, has already been signed because of the in-fill work on the property line.
The deal provides that the boats will be able to use the water in front of the park and that a fence separating the sites will be installed.
Coun. Julian Morse asked whether he could amend the plan at committee to allow motorized boats to use the docks.
Coun. Adrian Bell, who was chairperson of the meeting in place of Mayor Mark Heyck, said amendments could be made when the proposal moves to city council.
Morse then said he believes a lot more work needs to be done based on the city's Harbour Plan, a 2012 report that looked at how to improve the city's waterfronts.
He added that trying to solve all the waterfront needs with just one park would be a mistake.
"I'm very much committed to solving those issues very soon," he said, going on to say he wants the city to develop other boat launch areas.
One location he suggested was between Mosher Island and the former site of Con Mine.
Morse said he's excited to hear that administration plans to bring forward proposals to deal with float plane parking, perhaps with a more formalized system.
The previous city council approved moving ahead with development of a "low-impact" park with a budget of $300,000.
A third of that has been spent already to demolish a deteriorating boat launch, fill in the site and maintain the shoreline with the installation of gabion baskets - wire netting that encases stones to limit erosion.
The city report estimates the cost of the rest of the planned work - parking spaces, picnic tables and three floating docks - would cost about $175,000.
The issue goes to council Monday evening for a vote.
