The city may be moving into the next phase on its proposal to create new residential lots at 10 of the 13 sites originally put forward.

At Monday’s city council meeting, Mike Ellis, the acting planning and sustainability manager, brought forward the recommendation that public consultation get underway for the next phase of the planning for the lots.

It would see detailed layout for the lots presented to the public for comments before council decides on zoning.

As Ellis noted, one site in Mary Lake and two in Whitehorse Copper, both local subdivisions, have been taken off the table over geotechnical, hydrogeological, and road sightline concerns.

The remaining sites in Logan, Arkell, Granger, Hidden Valley, Cowley Creek, Porter Creek as well as two remaining sites in Mary Lake and two in Whitehorse Copper do not have technical issues. Consequently, they are proposed to go forward to the next phase.

This phase would include further public consultation on detailed lot layouts that would incorporate feedback already given through the first phase of public input.

The proposal has already been met with a number of concerns from residents of the neighbourhoods that see the addition of new properties.

In some areas, residents’ signatures were gathered to note their collective opposition for the infill proposal in their neighbourhood.

Others voiced their concerns in presentations to council, while the city also sought feedback through a survey done online.

“A total of 462 survey responses were received for the eight areas, ranging from 27 responses to 85 per survey,” it was highlighted in the report that came forward to council Monday night.

“Over 60 emails and letters were also received.”

Overall concerns focused on consultation (with arguments that the consultation window was too short and there was not enough information provided).

Concerns were also expressed about greenspace protection. Some respondents suggested additional sites for development.

For country residential areas, major concerns focused on the impact on wells and septic systems; the impact on wildlife; and loss of greenspace.

Finally, in urban areas, residents brought forward issues around the impacts from increased density and the disappearance of greenspace.

“If development was approved in these areas, residents expressed that:

• existing trails should be maintained;

• development regulations should be similar to existing neighbours;

• adequate sight lines for parking and traffic should be maintained; and

• country residential lot sizes should be adequate to support well/septic systems,” Ellis stated in his report to council.

Council will vote next week on whether to move the plans forward.

If council votes in favour, administration would provide detailed lot layouts for public input.

“A comprehensive consultation strategy is being developed that would include many opportunities for input,” Ellis noted in his report to council members.

Coun. Rob Fendrick indicated he will vote in favour of moving to the next phase, commending staff for first going out with a “blank slate” on the proposal.

“It was a good process,” he said.

There have been some misunderstandings about the way the city is going about the plans, Fendrick added.

When the city goes to the public with a blank slate to get ideas on what should be done, he pointed out, it’s criticized for not providing enough details.

On the other hand, when it provides more details on a proposal, there are criticisms that it doesn’t allow for enough input.

A zoning amendment process for the sites requiring a zoning change could be in place in September, concluding with a public hearing Oct. 16.

A final decision on whether to proceed with development could be made by Oct. 30.

Under questioning by a few council members, Ellis emphasized that the city would be able to split the votes to individual sites or by neighbourhood. Exactly how it will be done has still not been determined.

“There’s options,” Ellis said, stressing the city is taking everything in the process “one step at a time.”

City staff would work on how council will vote on individual infill proposals in September.

Most immediately though, council will vote next week on whether to move ahead with more detailed lot layouts.