Another week has been granted for residents to submit their comments to the Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) on the proposed first two phases of the Whistle Bend subdivision.

The initial deadline was Friday, Jan. 22, but by 4:00 that afternoon, a notice was published on the YESAB's website noting the extension to the comment period to Feb. 1.

"Please be advised that the period for submission of views and information regarding your project proposal has been extended. Views and information on this proposed project submitted on or before the end of February 1, 2010 will be considered in the evaluation,” notes the first notification that came out to the Yukon government, which is acting as the proponent for the project.

The extension came from a request from the Kwanlin Dun First Nation to allow another 14 days to make submissions on the proposal, YESAB assessment officer Keith Maguire said today.

"It's a pretty sizable project,” Jennifer Lee, the KDFN's lands administration manager, said this morning.

The scope of the development, coupled with the fact the Kwanlin Dun offices were closed over Christmas when the assessment came up on the YESAB website, means the first nation needs more time to review the project, Lee said.

"Kwanlin Dun has some settlement land close by,” Lee noted.

With the neighbourhood proposed in the first nation's traditional territory, Lee added, the first nation is interested in all the potential impacts.

"We try to look at it pretty broadly,” Lee said, adding among other concerns is how it will affect wildlife.

The KDFN didn't get the full 14-day extension it asked for, though.

As Maguire explained this morning, the board granted a 10-day extension to balance the interests of the proponent – the Yukon government – in having the assessment done in an efficient way with the interest of stakeholders to have enough time to review documents and make comments on it.

Although the first nation wanted a longer extension, Lee said, she believes the 10 days will be enough.

The extension comes following a heated public meeting on the new subdivision held Jan. 14.

While the application before the YESAB deals with the first two phases of development – 295 lots and the infrastructure to go with that – it was a road that would be built in the later phases of Whistle Bend that many took issue with.

The road, connecting the subdivision with the Alaska Highway via Pine Street, would cross at McIntyre Creek. That has many worried about the environmental impact on a major wildlife corridor in the city.

It was argued by moving forward with the first two phases of development, the need would be created for the road, making it more difficult to reject later.

Along with comments made at the public meeting, close to a dozen submissions had come in on the project from individual residents, government bodies and groups such as Ducks Unlimited and the Friends of McIntyre Creek.

Many continued to express outrage or, at the very least concern, over the future connector road to the Alaska Highway.

"Phase 3 and 4 and Alaska Highway connector should have been included to give a true assessment of the project,” noted Cam Beemer, who submitted a written comment at the public meeting. "The city has been misleading us for years on the McIntyre Creek area, and it seems the trend is continuing.”

Wendy Boothroyd, meanwhile, wrote in her submission: "I am concerned that YESAB is not including in its review of the proposed Whistle Bend development the possibility of a new road (Pine Street extension) and bridge that would add an extra crossing over McIntyre Creek.

"My understanding is that this road might be deemed necessary if the population of Whitehorse increased, and the addition of several thousand residents in the Whistle Bend area would certainly add the to pressure for more roads entering Whitehorse from the north. Thus, the road could be seen a logical result of developing Whistle Bend,” Boothroyd wrote.

"Once Whistle Bend is occupied, it might be extremely difficult to say no to a road.”

As city officials explained at the Jan. 14 meeting, with Whistle Bend to be developed over the next 20 years or more, planning for future phases has not yet been done and therefore can't be considered as part of this assessment.

The suggestion for the connector road was, however, included in background documents that will be looked at in considering the future scope of Whistle Bend, the YESAB assessment officers explained.

Still others, including the Department of Fisheries and Oceans (DFO), pointed to the more immediate impacts on McIntyre Creek from the first two phases of development that will see the widening of Range Road and replacing the culvert on Range Road over McIntyre Creek.

"Based on review of the proposal, DFO has concluded that the proposal, specifically the widening of the culvert and associated footprint, is likely to result in the harmful alteration, disruption or destruction of fish habitat,” reads a submission by Nathan Richer, a senior habitat biologist with the DFO.

"Considering the sensitivity of McIntyre Creek, activities such as excavating, infilling and general in-water work could have a significant impact on local fish populations. In order to maintain compliance with Section 35(2) of the Federal Fisheries Act, the proponent must obtain an authorization from Fisheries and Oceans Canada prior to proceeding.”

City planner Kindon Kosick said this morning he's pleased the YESAB has extended the comment period, given the level of public interest in it.

"It seems to be justified in this case,” he said.

The project will go to the territorial government after the YESAB releases its report with recommendations.

With the territory set to do the development, the city will continue to be involved as a regulatory body through development agreements and so on.