A series of plans may be required before the Yukon Breeze Sailing Society can move to a new location on Schwatka Lake.

City council will vote June 15 on whether to grant a conditional use permit for the sailing group to build a dock and move sea can storage units to the eastern shore of the lake at the north end.

City staff, however, are recommending council permit it, provided the group submits a heritage report, trail plan and remediation plan before a development permit is issued.

The sailing group offers day camps in the area through the summer months.

Planning manager Pat Ross brought forward the recommendation at Monday’s council meeting as part of a report on a public input session that was held last month.

During that session, one resident stated her opposition to the plans.

She argued more consultation is needed and that it would impact a trail in the area and could lead to more private use of the lake area.

Yukon Breeze and a local pilot countered that the numerous users can share the lake. They also noted the benefits the project can bring in the form of increased recreational activities and so on.

A further two written submissions also came into the city.

Addressing the issues that came up during the input session, Ross pointed out the proposal went through another public consultation process during its Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) review in March, prior to the council process.

Ross did, however, acknowledge the city’s upcoming management plan for the Chadburn Lake area could affect council’s decision, as it includes the eastern shoreline of Schwatka Lake.

“In light of this upcoming process, city council may wish to delay its decision for the application until further consultation can occur,” Ross said.

“If delayed, (Yukon Breeze) will be able to continue to operate its summer programming from the Schwatka Lake Day Use Area, where temporary authorizations are currently in place.”

He went on to note that public access to the lake would continue. Any future plans for storage or expansion would have to go through additional permitting processes.

The trail through the area would also remain accessible to the public, “though it may need to be offset by several metres to accommodate the slope required for construction of the ramp.

“If relocated, the trail would remain close to the shoreline,” Ross said, noting a trail plan outlining any relocation plans could be a requirement of a development permit.

Just as the trail and public access will remain in place, so too would picnic areas, though as Ross noted, the society may make use of them during their day camps.

“Camps would occur during business hours, and are not anticipated to overlap or conflict with popular recreating times during evenings or weekends,” he said.

The proposed requirement for a remediation plan comes out of a suggestion made during the input process to help ensure the site is restored to its previous state after the sailing society is finished using it.

While the non-profit group may be challenged to provide the city with a deposit for remediation work in the future, a plan could be drawn up with details on revegetation and securing the site from unintended uses, Ross stated.

He went on to note the work of the Schwatka Lake working group in implementing the area plan, pointing out that members of the group have noted safety implications won’t be known until a number of groups are using the lake.

He suggested council could recommend the Yukon government issue the License of Occupation for the sailing group to use the area for just one year at this point, on a trial basis.

“It is a busy time of year in the summer for (aircraft) landings on the lake,” Ross said.

There could be a potential for conflict depending on the direction of the wind and how planes have to land, Ross noted.

He also pointed out, however, that the summer camps are not an ongoing use, occurring only through the weekdays a few weeks during the summer.

“It’s really difficult to anticipate if this is going to be an issue,” Ross said in addressing the matter with council.

The issue of heritage did not arise during the public input session.

Ross, however, said YESAB’s report on the plans identified the site as having “moderate potential for the presence of archaeological resources.”

With that, it’s recommended the heritage report, which is currently being worked on, be required prior to the development permit being issued.

Coun. Dave Stockdale was absent from Monday’s meeting.