Residents will have an opportunity to tell city council exactly what they think of the proposed zoning changes being considered for the MacBride Museum of Yukon History.

The zoning changes, as well as a separate encroachment agreement MacBride officials are seeking, would allow the museum to move ahead with the massive 19,000-square- foot, three-level expansion it’s planning.

The federal and territorial governments recently announced they would each contribute $3 million for the expansion.

As a report to council sums up: “The society plans the construction of a modernist building sited adjacent to and overhanging the historic Telegraph Office.

“The proposed building does not meet several of the regulations of the existing zoning, and the society has applied for a zoning amendment that will remove requirements to retain a front yard setback, meet waterfront design guidelines, and provide off-street parking.

“The society is also requesting approval for encroachments into the Front Street and Steele Street rights-of-way to accommodate the new building.”

As officials with MacBride have explained previously, with limited space on its Front Street property, the only way to build an expansion is by building up.

While the proposal doesn’t technically meet the requirements of the waterfront guidelines, the building is designed to have the appearance of the warehouses that were once commonplace in the area.

During Monday evening’s meeting, council members were unaanimous in voting to pass first reading on both the zoning bylaw and encroachment agreements.

It was also stressed by some, however, that the vote will get the issue to the next stage in the process, which will see a public hearing about the zoning at council’s Oct. 11 meeting.

Coun. Samson Hartland said he’s very interested in hearing what the public has to say on the plans.

A report on the public hearing session will then be presented to council at the Oct. 17 session, with second and third readings coming forward Oct. 24.

While there is no public hearing on encroachment agreements, second and third readings for that are also scheduled to come forward Oct. 24, as the encroachment cannot proceed until the zoning is in place.

Council and senior management are also slated to discuss the plans at an Oct. 4 council and senior management meeting.

In addition to the zoning changes and encroachment agreement, the museum is also asking the city for in-kind support in providing the annual encroachment fee.

The amount of the fee is based on the amount of land being encroached on and its value.

At the current market value, it’s estimated the fee would be more than $4,000 per year.

Officials with MacBride are aiming to begin construction on the estimated two-year project this year.

Coun. Betty Irwin was absent from last night’s meeting, while Hartland and Coun. Dan Boyd and attended via conference call.