Territorial Contracting Ltd.'s application to relocate a concrete batch plant and quarry operation to the McLean Lake area will be put on hold until city council can determine whether the project will harm the environment.

In a decision made at Monday night's meeting, following nearly two hours of public debate on the issue, a divided council decided to hire an independent consultant.

That person will determine whether an environmental assessment done for the project was valid and followed the letter of the law.

Coun. Doug Graham brought forward a motion to delay the zoning of 14 hectares of land behind the Sleeping Giant Hill near McLean Lake, the same area sought by Territorial Contracting.

He said the city should hire and pay for an independent assessment of an environmental assessment done on the property to alleviate residents' fears that the project would damage the environment, pollute the air and ruin their quality of life.

'I move that all land comprising the approximately 14 hectares be zoned future development until such time that proper studies can be done,' Graham said.

'My biggest reason for bringing this forward is that we've heard on a number of occasions concerns about health hazards, none of which we heard from the proponent,' he said.

Graham said he hoped the assessment, done by an independent third auditor and paid for by the city, could be done quickly. That would pave the way for residents' concerns to be addressed and bring Territorial Contracting's application for the property to a conclusion, he said.

Concerns raised at the meeting by city residents included: the process undertaken by YTG violated the Environmental Assessment Act, because no other locations were debated or discussed as required, and that the environmental assessment completed on the property was incomplete.

Speaking to council, Whitehorse resident Skeeter Miller-Wright said he feels the environmental assessment on the project was not properly done. He has filed an application for investigation into the matter with the territorial Department of Environment.

'Parts of this zoning bylaw are dependent on this environmental assessment,' he said.

'There were legislated aspects of the assessment that were not conducted adequately.'

The territory's Environmental Assessment Act has since been replaced by the Yukon Environmental Socioeconomic Assessment Act (YESSA).

In an interview this morning, Miller-Wright explained that the environmental assessment, conducted by the YTG with information submissions from Territorial Contracting's consultant, Access Consulting, failed to meet requirements under the law.

Miller-Wright's concerns have been publicly shared by the Kwanlin Dun First Nation.

Miller-Wright elaborated on his position this morning.

'The environmental assessment was undertaken by the YTG as required under the Environmental Assessment Act,' he said, explaining that that assessment was completed, in part, with information provided to it by Access Consulting.

That assessment, Miller-Wright said, was incomplete as it did not take into account other areas that would be suitable for the development proposed by Territorial Contracting.

He said he also feels more detailed studies of the area would be necessary to determine what the impact on the environment would be.

In an interview Monday, Dan Cornett, of Access Consulting, said he is confident the proper procedures had been followed and the information provided from Access to the YTG is thorough and credible.

During the meeting, council members informed members of the public that the new zoning bylaw actually reduces Industrial Quarry zoning in the area by over half of what is currently permitted.

The move to delay the project was supported by all council members except Coun. Bev Buckway and Coun. Mel Stehelin.

In an interview following Monday's meeting, Ron Newsome, the proprietor of Territorial Contracting Ltd., said he supported council's decision and hopes it will bring his application closer to completion.

'I think it was a good decision, I think this will help us move forward,' he said.