The focus of infill work in the city and funding for it could be moving downtown, away from Porter Creek.

At Monday's city council meeting, planning manager Pat Ross brought forward a proposal that council move $80,000 set aside for infill development at Tamarack Drive and Pine Street in Porter Creek into other development initiatives.

Those range from incentives for downtown projects to looking at accessible housing.

As Ross explained in his report to council, since the $80,000 was approved in the capital budget for Porter Creek infill, "council has made a decision to re-prioritize the proposed 2014 infill work and focus on other housing initiatives, notably including emphasis on downtown densification.”

He recalled that last January, council directed that staff move forward on four short-term housing initiatives and a proposed accessible housing concept.

During the city's annual review of its strategic plan in April, council's priority on private land development, particularly around "downtown intensification”, was highlighted.

"High-quality private housing development within our existing infrastructure footprint remains the most important component of this,” Ross stated in his report, before going on to propose the shifting of funds from Porter Creek infill to other initiatives, which he also argued could mean less backlash from area residents.

"These initiatives are generally less controversial than infill development, while also generating as many or more housing units,” he said.

Along with downtown development incentives and moving forward on consultation with local builders and the public on accessible housing, the cash would also go to promoting the building of secondary suites for the rental market, looking at possible controls on demolition and condoization of rental housing.

As Ross stated: "In cases where existing housing stock is demolished or subdivided as a condominium, there is a potential change from rental to privately owned housing.

This has an impact on both the vacancy rate and affordability of rental housing in the city. This initiative would include hiring a consultant to research other jurisdictions and propose potential regulatory changes to address this issue.”

He stressed that looking at controls on demolition and subdivision would be for research only "and will not comprise actual regulatory changes at this point in time.”

Ross went on to point out there are a number of other initiatives around housing that may come up, including the Yukon Housing Corp.'s (YHC's) Housing Action Plan for the Yukon expected this fall.

"This plan may identify further projects that can be undertaken by the city,” he said.

Council members were quick to state their enthusiasm for the territorial initiative following Ross' presentation.

As Coun. Betty Irwin said, when the housing plan comes forward, there could be a new way of approaching housing issues.

Coun. John Streicker also suggested that as the city moves forward with its initiatives, it will be important to work in conjunction with the territory so that the two levels of government aren't duplicating their initiatives.

Speaking to reporters after Monday night's meeting, Mayor Dan Curtis stressed the importance of working not only with the Yukon government, but also First Nations and the business community.

Curtis recently spoke out in favour of Yukon Housing's Northern Housing Trust affordable rental initiative (see story below).

Curtis said he's already had executives in the mining industry ask whether the city would be ready if a large mine was to be running.

It's important for there to be a good housing stock in the city, particularly downtown.

"We want to densify the downtown core,” he said.

Council will vote next week on whether to redirect the $80,000 from infill in Porter Creek to other housing initiatives.