Whitehorse Daily Star

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Photo by Vince Fedoroff

COUNCIL DEVIATES FROM STAFF’S VIEW – City of Whitehorse staff recommended against a zoning change to clear the way for a drive-thru at the Kopper King Services complex (above). On Monday evening, city council approved the zoning change for the Alaska Highway business anyway. Inset Dan Boyd, left, Roslyn Woocock

Council green-lights Kopper King drive-thru

Kopper King Services has become the first business along the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse to be permitted a drive-thru – despite a staff recommendation against the zoning change.

By Stephanie Waddell on January 18, 2017

Kopper King Services has become the first business along the Alaska Highway in Whitehorse to be permitted a drive-thru – despite a staff recommendation against the zoning change.

In a 5-2 vote Monday evening, council approved the zoning change to allow a drive-thru on the commercial property just south of Porter Creek.

Councillors Betty Irwin and Roslyn Woodcock voted against the zoning change.

The site is currently home to a gas station/convenience store, restaurant and a bar with a mobile home park behind the commercial space.

As the current owners attempt to sell the property, they sought the zoning change in an effort to increase the site’s potential marketability to prospective buyers.

The owners have acknowledged that future buyers may not want to put in a drive-thru, and there are no specific plans for such, but this would provide an option for those interested.

In a report last week, city staff recommended that council defeat the proposed zoning amendment.

Staff cited policies from the Official Community Plan (OCP) that aim to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and encourage businesses along the highway that complement rather than compete with downtown shops and services.

It was a recommendation a number of council members struggled with.

Coun. Dan Boyd was the first council member to highlight those thoughts at Monday night’s meeting.

Yes, it’s important to reduce idling and greenhouse gas emissions, he said.

He then pointed out that by saying yes to a drive-thru on the highway, the city may well be moving toward those goals. Those who typically make their way off the highway into the downtown area to grab something through a drive-thru would have the option to stay on the highway.

A highway drive-thru could mean drivers instead swing into that drive-thru on their commute. That would reduce the extra greenhouse gas emissions that come when drivers go out of their way to the downtown sector. It could also take more vehicles off of already busy streets downtown.

As for competing with downtown business, Boyd pointed out there haven’t been any concerns coming from the downtown business community over the zoning change.

Coun. Samson Hartland expressed similar thoughts on the issue, adding he reviewed the OCP policies and so on and couldn’t support the staff recommendation.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu said she too was “of a similar mindset” with other councillors in supporting the rezoning. She argued “competition is healthy” for the business community.

Having to come downtown increases greenhouse gas emissions, she said, arguing she would favour changes that would allow more businesses on the highway. For many, like herself, who live in country residential subdivisions, more businesses along the Alaska Highway would be beneficial and could eliminate longer drives into town for items like bread or milk.

Irwin argued what council would essentially do by voting in favour of the change is allowing the property owner to increase the property value. There’s no set established plan for a drive-thru business there, she said.

Woodcock, meanwhile, made it clear she isn’t necessarily opposed to a drive-thru at the site. With a review of the OCP coming up and no specific drive-thru planned there, she said, she’d rather have the zoning change considered at a later date.

Prior to voting on second and third readings, council members unanimously agreed to an amendment on the recommendation put forward by Coun. Rob Fendrick which removed the clause that it be defeated at second reading.

He suggested such recommendations should simply come forward under the bylaw process, at which point members can vote in favour or against.

While council voted unanimously in favour of Fendrick’s amendment, Mayor Dan Curtis acknowledged this was a “very unique situation.” It features a number of grey areas around city policies that would typically guide staff recommendations to council, he added.

Woodcock also suggested that given the discussion around recommendations that come from administration to council, there perhaps should be broader discussion over how those recommendations are worded.

Comments (14)

Up 1 Down 0

brad on Jan 26, 2017 at 11:12 pm

the empty lot beside KFC should be a WENDYS or DQ

Up 7 Down 4

Willy Nilly business development by the City of Whitehorse on Jan 22, 2017 at 12:51 pm

City has no policy on business development and some councillors just don't get it. The official community plan is so off side and does not supply good direction.
The big issues are the Mayor and Council don't listen to tax papers or the proprieties of tax payers. Wilf Carter

Up 20 Down 1

Max Mack on Jan 20, 2017 at 3:11 pm

Apparently, the gold standard for Council decision-making has become "reducing greenhouse gas emissions."

It's going to be a rough ride, Whitehorse.

Up 14 Down 0

June Jackson on Jan 20, 2017 at 2:38 pm

To Peter: This article was not about public transit. But, you put it out there, my opinion is this.. any time you have to use force on the populace, the issue is doomed already. Your suggestion to force all government employees to pay fee's to park will make them ride public transit is ludicrous. Attempting force on any issue is NOT how you "This is how you take action on pollution, idling, reducing traffic load on the roads, wear and tear on the roads, accidents" This is how you **ss off a whole lot of people who will go to their union and make parking a condition of employment. As the government doesn't want a staff war at -40, they will concede.

You said "No parking meters but I got to pay for parking downtown. " Why aren't you taking the bus?

Up 11 Down 6

ProScience Greenie on Jan 20, 2017 at 8:30 am

Please, not another Tims, Starbucks or McDonalds or anything lame or fluffy. A Wendys or BK would be awesome.

Up 14 Down 23

Peter on Jan 19, 2017 at 8:19 pm

What about all those YTG employees getting free parking and plugins on the taxpayers dime. Make them pay for parking and then they may take city transit.
The City can then afford, with the increase revenue on riders, put more buses on line.
Also since when do school students get free parking at the schools? If they can afford a vehicle, then pay for parking or take the bus. Note all the YTG parking on black street next to Whitehorse elementary school. No parking meters but I got to pay for parking downtown.
Listen up City of Whitehorse! Install parking meters and make them pay or take the bus! This is how you take action on pollution, idling, reducing traffic load on the roads, wear and tear on the roads, accidents.

Up 26 Down 2

Martin on Jan 19, 2017 at 4:48 pm

I worked next door and made frequent runs to Starbuck drive thru; hopefully, if they put one decent coffee shop there, I won't be wasting gas for 5 km each way. How is that for saving gas emissions, Mr Ross? Kudos to all councilors voted in favor.

Up 26 Down 4

Always a Yukoner on Jan 19, 2017 at 3:24 pm

I never heard anything so ridiculous in my whole life. Stop the pollution because their not going downtown, what about them idling waiting for their food. Do you really think its that busy. What about the vehicles idling in the cold weather, good grief, how ridiculous. What will the COW think of next, ridiculous!!!!

Up 24 Down 13

WendyKing on Jan 19, 2017 at 9:27 am

We definitely need a Wendy's, Arby's, Burger King, and Taco Bell

Up 24 Down 8

Don on Jan 19, 2017 at 12:01 am

MMMMmmmmm Drive through hot wings with draft on tap to go. My my my how Whitehorse is progressed.

Up 18 Down 4

June Jackson on Jan 18, 2017 at 5:27 pm

This can only be an improvement and bring business to the area, depending of course on the business.. as there is housing 10 steps away, it might also provide a few jobs. Sounds like a win win.

Up 49 Down 7

Jonathan Colby on Jan 18, 2017 at 4:14 pm

Anybody on about idling hasn't been paying attention to the wood smoke in the area. Good grief.

Up 35 Down 7

Bud McGee on Jan 18, 2017 at 3:58 pm

That was a clever move by the property owners. Good job.

Up 32 Down 11

TacoTacoBurrito on Jan 18, 2017 at 3:00 pm

Wendy's or Taco Bell!!!

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