City planners took local residents on a Wednesday evening walking tour of the proposed Arkell expansion site, an area that will turn greenspace into living space.

'It was a beautiful evening, so that helped, and we took two groups out,' Zo' Morrison, a city planner, said this morning.

Whitehorse planners Morrison, Max Kerrigan and Mike Ellis led about 20 residents primarily from Arkell, and some from Logan and Granger, along the expansion site.

The land is currently covered with trees, brush, walking paths and other mixed greenery.

Participants learned where the city plans to keep a 30-metre buffer zone of greenspace between the current Arkell subdivision and the expansion site, behind Sandpiper and Heron Drives.

They were also asked what trails they used most often, to give city planners an idea of which ones to keep and incorporate into the subdivision's future design.

'It will have trails, and parks, but we don't have plans yet; that comes in November,' said Morrison.

'People were really positive about the walk,' she said. 'It's appreciated when we're getting the public involved early in the process.'

Citizens have raised concerns in the past that cutting down trees to make room for new houses is not a sustainable solution to the city's current growth boom.

'There's certainly people who will miss their greenspace,' said Morrison.

In spite of these concerns, she added, the development will go on as planned.

'We have direction from council to go ahead; we had the referendum that gave us the yes vote, so that sends us a message,' she said.

The city planners gave walk participants flyers indicating that construction on the site is slated to begin in 2008-2009.

That will follow the area's planning development, territory-mandated Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board approval, and city council's legislative process.

Residents were informed about the walking tour through city newspapers and via posted signs around the development site's entrance.

The next stage at which the public is invited to participate is a planning workshop in November, said Morrison.