Karen Baltgailis, the Yukon Conservation Society's executive director, is hoping all those with concerns over the proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) will make their interest in the city planning document known by showing up to council's meeting tonight.

City staff are set to bring forward a report and recommendation to council on the OCP from the public hearing held last month.

The OCP acts as an overall guide in city planning, with the current plan adopted in 2002. The review of the plan began last year and it is expected it will replace the current plan this fall.

In a statement Friday, Baltgailis noted the society's fear of council ignoring its suggestion and that of Friends of McIntyre Creek that the creek area between the Alaska Highway and Mountainview Drive be designated as a priority planning area before any development happens there.

"We are proposing a compromise that could make everyone happy,” Baltgailis said in a statement.

"There are many contentious issues to resolve in middle McIntyre Creek before any development should go ahead. This is the most important remaining east-west wildlife corridor in Whitehorse; it is hugely important for recreation, it is (an) important migratory bird habitat, and it is important for education.”

She went on to argue there needs to be inclusive planning so a "scientifically valid” wildlife corridor can be designated and consideration given to recreation before any new housing – proposed as Porter Creek D – is developed.

"What I saw at a July 20 (council and senior management) meeting was that most of the councillors seemed more focused on development than addressing concerns about wildlife or local people's quality of life,” she said. "Only two councillors seemed to be seriously listening to the public input regarding areas like McIntyre Creek.”

In an interview this morning, Baltgailis noted it seemed just Councillors Ranj Pillai and Doug Graham seemed to understanding the importance of such planning prior to development.

Others, she said, appeared more concerned about the delay it might create in planning for development.

As she argued, though, with some creativity there doesn't have to be a major change in the designation of the land in the OCP.

The definition of priority planning could include a provision for development to go ahead once the planning has been done.

"There is still time for city council to take an approach that avoids controversy and acknowledges the importance of middle McIntyre Creek for wildlife, recreation and education while allowing for some housing development,” she said.

"If council agrees to a real planning process for middle McIntyre Creek, the revised OCP could be welcomed instead of causing outcry and conflict.”

Baltgailis noted council's overall reaction to middle McIntyre Creek didn't seem to differ on other issues as well.

Quarrying at Sleeping Giant Hill, for example, had Graham questioning again whether some thought could be given to other areas that could be quarried instead.

"Again, it seemed there was a reluctance,” she said.

Designating a Riverdale area between Boswell Crescent and Firth Road, which was the major bone of contention at the public hearing, is another OCP proposal that needs re-thinking, Baltgailis said.

She questioned whether the city needs to "cram” new lots into a green-space so important to residents of the area.

After that meeting, where council and management agreed to e-mail correspondence on the OCP prior to tonight's report, Baltgailis said she's "a little bit nervous” that the report will be more of a focus on what council has said about the document than a response to the public concerns

expressed.

That's why it's so important for the public to come out to tonight's council meeting, she said.

The session will start at 7:30 p.m. inside council chambers at city hall.

It's expected second reading will come forward for a vote next Monday following council's discussion tonight.

If that passes, the draft OCP will then go to the Yukon government for ministerial approval before coming back to the city for third reading and adoption.