Whitehorse Daily Star

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Mélodie Simard

First Nation’s development plan progresses

A new office and community space being planned for the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) is a step closer to development on an 11,000-square-metre vacant lot at 19 McIntyre Dr.

By Stephanie Waddell on May 24, 2018

A new office and community space being planned for the Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN) is a step closer to development on an 11,000-square-metre vacant lot at 19 McIntyre Dr.

That became evident after city council passed the first reading of the rezoning for the site Tuesday night.

The change would see the zoning changed from FN-FP Future Planning to FN-PS Public Service.

“The anticipated building would accommodate a combination of office and community gathering space,” Mélodie Simard, the city’s planning and sustainability manager, told council in an earlier report.

Further details on the development would be confirmed through the design and building process, she added.

Simard noted the FN-FP zone is in place to protect land until more planning happens to determine the right zone for a site.

“McIntyre contains a significant amount of land zoned FN-FP that could eventually be developed, including the subject lot,” Simard said.

“KDFN has determined that a mix of public services is the best use of land through its own internal planning process.”

The FN-PS zone aims to provide a designation “for public and privately owned facilities of an institutional of community service nature.”

It’s typically used to allow for government buildings and services.

“The proposed development will add institutional and neighbourhood amenities to the area,” Simard said.

“The lot is located on McIntyre Drive, which is a collector road that is designed to accommodate a traffic level higher than what it currently experiences.

“As such, the development is not anticipated to generate traffic-related issues. McIntyre Drive is also serviced by a city bus route, making it accessible for transit users.”

With first reading approved, a public hearing on the rezoning will be held June 11.

A report on the hearing will then be presented to council June 18. Council would then be expected to vote on the final two readings of the rezoning on June 25.

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