Public’s final say on OCP goes tonight

A final say….

That’s what tonight’s public hearing on the proposed revised Official Community Plan (OCP) could be for anyone wanting to address council on the document.

City council approved first reading of plan, which acts as an overall guide in city planning, late last month.

Tonight’s city council meeting will be the last formal opportunity for the public to speak up on it. The meeting is set to get underway at 7:30 p.m. inside council chambers at city hall.

And at least two groups are planning to do just that.

In an e-mail correspondence to local media Friday, Karen Baltgailis, the Yukon Conservation Society’s executive director, noted she and representatives of the Friends of McIntyre Creek “and no doubt many others” would be on hand at the hearing.

She went on to re-state the position of the society that it is “quite happy” with the draft document, provided four areas are designated for more planning instead of development.

They include the McIntyre Creek area from Porter Creek D to the Yukon College endowment lands, Sleeping Giant Hill at McLean Lake, connections for people and wildlife across the Alaska Highway corridor and infill in existing neighbourhoods.

“We understand that COW (City of Whitehorse) is eager to complete and implement the Official Community Plan,” Baltgailis wrote in a nine-page document sent to city planning manager Mike Gau.

“However, if these areas are designated for development as proposed in the OCP draft 2, there will be great controversy.

“Each of these areas needs further, inclusive planning involving First Nations, ENGOs (environmental non-governmental organizations), local people, developers and scientists so that we can make rational, scientifically founded decisions about their future.”

She then continued to call on the city to designate the four areas for priority planning, which would see the planning done in the near future.

“That way, the OCP can be passed and implemented with the support of the majority of Whitehorse residents,” reads Baltgailis’ letter. It then goes into further detail on each area and other issues.

The OCP also proposes a higher limit on building heights from 20 metres to 25 metres; 65 per cent of the city being green space; a 500-metre buffer between heavy industrial and residential areas; initiatives to deal with the impacts of potential infill developments in Riverdale such as a transportation study; trail work; removing duplexes as a permitted use in country residential subdivisions; and many others.

The draft comes after extensive public consultation in the form of neighbourhood meetings, community cafés and stakeholder group sessions over more than a year.

After tonight’s public hearing, city staff will be tasked with bringing forward a report to council in response to any issues that are brought up and, potentially, put forward any changes from that.

That report is expected to come forward at council’s July 19 meeting before second reading is voted on, likely the following week.

The document must then go to the territorial government for ministerial approval before coming back to city council for third reading and adoption, expected on Sept. 27.