Whitehorse Daily Star

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CITY EYES RECONSTRUCTION PROJECT – Property owners would pay anywhere from $2,159.67 to $44,954 over a 15-year period if a local improvement charge was implemented for improvements to the Alexander Street-Third Avenue area (above). Inset Taylor Eshpeter

LIC pondered for downtown property owners

Property owners along Alexander Street and Third Avenue may be asked to pitch in for improvements the city is planning to make to their area.

By Stephanie Waddell on September 22, 2017

Property owners along Alexander Street and Third Avenue may be asked to pitch in for improvements the city is planning to make to their area.

At Monday evening’s city council meeting, assistant city engineer Taylor Eshpeter brought forward the proposed bylaw.

It calls for a local improvement charge (LIC) for the 22 property owners on the street from Second Avenue to Fourth Avenue as well as Third Avenue from Alexander to Black Street.

If first reading of the bylaw passes next week, the property owners would be asked to vote on it.

A vote of at least 50 per cent plus one in favour is required for the city to go ahead with the charge to property owners. If the vote is negative, the city typically chooses not to proceed with the project.

The city had considered reconstruction of Alexander Street from Fourth to Sixth avenues.

However, the proposal was met with strong opposition due to the cost to property owners and the disruption there could be for businesses during construction.

“It was decided not to advance this segment to the LIC process and instead explore the next segment on the four-year capital plan,” Eshpeter noted. “The next segment is Alexander Street east – Second to Fourth avenues.”

The work, estimated to cost $3.2 million, would see:

• water and sewer mains replaced to meet current infrastructure standards and increase capacity;

• water recirculating services installed to replace services that bleed in order to meet current frost protection standards and to improve distribution efficiency;

• enhanced street lighting and landscaping;

• new sidewalks and angled parking on both sides of the road;

• frost-susceptible soils removed, with new asphalt for the roadway; and

• curb and gutter construction to improve drainage.

Approximately $475,000 would be collected through the LIC.

Property owners would pay anywhere from $2,159.67 to $44,954 over a 15-year period, depending on their property.

The exact charge per property owner is based on the amount of frontage and what type of property it is.

The charge for residential and not-for-profits would be $633.33 per metre of frontage.

Commercial property owners would pay $1,266.67 per metre of frontage, and finally, governments would pay $1,900 per metre.

“Replacing aging water and sewer infrastructure on Alexander Street will contribute to meeting sustainability goals by reducing the amount of water wasted by services that bleed for frost protection,” it was noted.

“Reductions will be achieved in the energy and costs associated with treating, heating and circulating water within the distribution system.

“Additional benefits include upsizing the capacity of infrastructure to meet a growing population density in downtown and the increase in service needs.

“Achieving universal accessibility in surface works is an important goal for the city.

“Alexander Street consists of a combination of paved and gravel surfacing, on which potholes, ponding and dusty conditions are common occurrences.

“The proposed work includes concrete sidewalks, curbs, gutters and new asphalt paving which will significantly improve accessibility and pedestrian safety.”

Coun. Samson Hartland said he’s pleased to see the plans come forward, noting the area will benefit from sidewalks.

Eshpeter emphasized under questioning from council that the underground utilities on the road have reached their end and need replacing.

If council passes first reading of the bylaw next week, response forms would be sent to property owners, with the response period ending Nov. 2.

A public hearing would also be held Oct. 10.

On Nov. 6, a report of public hearing and the responses would be presented to council.

Then second and third readings would come forward on Nov. 14.

Comments (5)

Up 5 Down 1

Moose on Sep 27, 2017 at 11:54 pm

Hopefully these residents will have more sense than those in Hillcrest who voted down their LIC. Their infrastructure and therefore value of their homes will be going downhill fast and they have no one to blame but themselves. They will try to blame the City instead of taking responsibility for their actions of course. lol.

Up 8 Down 2

how it works on Sep 26, 2017 at 12:26 pm

The article should specify that the property owners are not being asked to pay for the water and sewer lines, but for a portion of the above ground work. The assumption is that new pavement and improved sidewalks and landscaping benefit the property owners directly. I went through this once before, freaking out about it, then I learned the whole story.

Up 16 Down 4

Mick on Sep 23, 2017 at 9:55 pm

Note to self: never ever buy something in Whitehorse.
This looks like a classic bait ans switch scam; you first buy a house/condo and are aware of the cost and taxes, then after you own it the government tries to rip you off for what is the governments responsibility.
Has the government ever heard of asset management? asset life cycle? the fact that an asset has a limited life and it needs to be written off over that life? and that this money is to put aside for replacement at the end of that asset?

It might be good to have a look in the books where all this money goes to.... unless the books are cooked...

Up 12 Down 7

Just Say'in on Sep 23, 2017 at 6:01 pm

It sounds to me that a lot of these upgrades benefit the City at large or the City itself and not so much the property owners. I can understand why the local people do not figure that they should pay for upgrades to the system to benefit people further down the pipe. That is what city taxes are paid for. We all pay in, and we all benefit.

Up 24 Down 4

Lost in the Yukon on Sep 22, 2017 at 3:25 pm

Lordy lordy ... another assault on seniors and those on fixed income by the well paid and underworked City Council (who by the way want a raise) ... one has to wonder if the new castle in the sky vanity building ($52,000,000.00 and rising) dreamed up by the Mayor has contributed to our rising taxes ... and now anyone on Alexander Street is going to get hosed by this spend, spend, spend administration running the City.

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