SOMBA K'E/YELLOWKNIFE
The city is ditching plans for a $250,000 seasonal floating boardwalk along a portion of the Grace Lake shoreline.
The 250- to 350-metre boardwalk was meant to provide public access to the waterfront behind some of the largest properties - and homes - in the city's Grace Lake neighbourhood.
Homes are starting to appear on Grace Lake North, a new subdivision in the southern part of the city where some lots extend to the waterfront. - Shane Magee/NNSL photo |
Concerns about the feasibility and cost of the plan led to renewed public consultations on the concept and how to achieve public access. The boardwalk was considered low priority by 87 per cent of those who answered a city survey, a staff report indicates.
A pared-down plan for public access to the waterfront was presented to city councillors during a municipal services committee meeting Monday.
Some of the funds for the boardwalk, raised through sales of the Grace Lake North lots, will be redirected to install a multi-use pathway along Kam Lake Road in the future.
The revision includes amending a city bylaw passed before the lots were sold to remove references to the planned boardwalk.
The new plan has a dock for non-motorized vessels at a small park off Kam Lake Road. A trail from the park would run to a different park with a playground on Grace Lake Boulevard.
A trail, steps and "viewing amenity" are planned for the playground lot as well as more parking spaces, a gazebo, garbage bins, benches and a bike rack.
Coun. Julian Morse said he was happy with what was presented.
"It looks like administration has incorporated the public's thoughts and concerns into what they've brought to council," he said.
The original plan set aside $400,000 for the boardwalk and other elements of the plan with money from land sales. The revised plan is expected to cost $240,000. The remaining $160,000 is expected to be spent on multi-use trail along Kam Lake Road. The first component of the trail is expected to be built when part of the road is repaved this summer.
Coun. Steve Payne questioned what Grace Lake North land buyers were told as part of their purchase of Grace Lake North land and alluded to how money from lots sales would now pay for a trail through a different part of the city.
"They were under the assumption that 10 per cent cent of their lot value was for parks and trail-ways and things like that and that it was going to be specifically set aside for projects within Grace Lake itself," Payne said.
Wenyan Yu, acting director of planning and development, said there were some "off-site" costs factored into land prices, such as for a section of the trail along Kam Lake Road.
Rohan Brown, who voiced concerns in 2011 about potential ecological damage the neighbourhood could have on the lake, said cutting the boardwalk wasn't a shock.
"I'm not surprised by the outcome given that the boardwalk was going to be adjacent to their backyards," Brown said.
Many of the comments received by the city during public consultations last year called for inclusion of a trail around the lake. The comments, included in a report presented to councillors Monday, showed a mix of opinions around protecting Grace Lake and ensuring access.
One unnamed person wrote there is always tension between homeowners and the public around recreational space near bodies of water
"Grace Lake was a recreational place long before it hosted the gigantic homes it now has," the unnamed person stated.
Another comment said the most attractive feature of living on Grace Lake Boulevard is that it's "quiet, clean, fairly private and the lake is not over-run with people and their boats."
The city's website advertises the lots for single-family homes as having "direct access" to Grace Lake. The lots don't include a wide buffer for public use, like the city included with lots on the south side of the lake.
In 2012, when the Grace Lake North plan was presented to council, the boardwalk was included as a compromise to ensure public access.
Council will vote at a future meeting on whether to amend a bylaw.
