Creating new lots is no way to solve a traffic issue, says city councillor Kirk Cameron and other council members who echoed his sentiments at Tuesday night's council meeting.

Cameron made the comment as council was reviewing a public hearing report on a proposed Official Community Plan (OCP) amendment.

The change would see the Yukon Horse and Rider Association move to the former Klondike Motorsport Association (KMA) speedway in Cowley Creek, along with creating up to five new residential country lots.

The association is currently located in the Whistle Bend area. As the city has planned its newest major subdivision, work was done to find the association a new site.

Last October, the city approved a conditional use application to allow the group to use the speedway.

The territory, however, found the access to the site from the Alaska Highway to the speedway wasn't safe, so couldn't be used as a permanent access to the site.

Thus, the city is proposing that the site be accessed through an extension to Sockeye Place.

That extension would be funded through the sale of the proposed four to five country residential lots in the area.

"As the KMA area and a surrounding greenbelt is currently designated Future Planning in the OCP, an amendment to Recreation Areas (YHRA) and Residential - Country (proposed new lots) designations would be required prior to this project moving forward,” it was noted in the report presented by planning manager Pat Ross.

At last week's public hearing, five people turned up with a mix of reaction to the proposal – two showed support, two spoke out against it and another had concerns about it.

Issues ranging from the increased traffic volume through a quiet residential area to environmental impacts to a loss of greenspace were among the top concerns that came forward last week.

The Yukon government has told the city it will not fund road upgrades to the highway at the KMA access point.

Cameron, however, argued there must be alternatives that would allow the highway to be used.

"I need to look at options,” he said, later suggesting a lower speed limit could be among traffic controls that could make the area safe for use as an access.

Coun. Betty Irwin agreed, stating she can't see bringing in new development as a traffic control.

The site, she argued, is ideal for the horse and rider association. She said the government is "being completely unreasonable” on the matter of the access.

Mayor Dan Curtis cautioned that there had been good discussions with the territory.

He was at the meetings where the issue was explored.

There was indeed a good discussion, but the territory was clear it did not have the money to upgrade the highway so the access from there could be used permanently.

Meanwhile, Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu, who lives in the area, brought in her personal experience, though she noted she wouldn't favour it happening in any country residential area of the city.

As she pointed out, people live in country residential neighbourhoods for their quiet atmosphere.

Those who live there often make sacrifices, like driving 15 to 20 minutes into town and not receiving services most urban areas of Whitehorse get.

And now, she commented, they are at risk of losing the very lifestyle they sought so people can ride their horses.

"Other options have to be looked at,” she said.

Coun. Dave Stockdale, meanwhile, suggested standards that may be followed in larger centres for highways may not be as necessary for a small section leading into a riding ground.

Sometimes, following standards is a good thing, he noted, but there are also times when things can go overboard.

Stockdale also noted his disbelief that adding fewer than a half-dozen homes ot the neighbourhood would "destroy” the lifestyles of area residents.

This could be an infill project for some much-desired country residential lots, Stockdale added.

Curteanu later replied to the comments. She argued the situation would see a neighbourhood street become a thoroughfare for large vehicles heading to the riding grounds.

For her, the words "infill” and "country residential” are not compatible, she said.

She pointed to the city's strategic plan, which pushes for higher density and infill within the city's more urban areas which already have city infrastructure and are not in country residential neighbourhoods.

Cameron also noted that if it's an issue of infill, that needs to be a separate discussion, but new lots shouldn't be added simply to solve a traffic issue.

As city manager Stan Westby described, it's not simply a traffic issue, but also a financial one, as costs of access to the site have to be considered.

Under questioning by Coun. Mike Gladish, Ross said that while a decommissioned sewage lagoon north of the current horse and riders association site was among the alternative locations considered, it was eventually ruled out.

That's because the streets would have been narrower, making it more of a challenge for vehicle heading to the association grounds.

Finally, Coun. John Streicker commented it could be worth talking to the government again about the cost and some alternatives suggested, like Cameron's proposed lower speed limit.

Much of last night's discussion focused on the roadway issues and lot development.

However, Ross also pointed out that an amendment is proposed to the area for lots that would reduce the area of lots to remove the trail connection and slope area next to riparian areas. That came forward out of the environmental concerns.

Council is scheduled to vote on that amendment as well as whether to move forward with second reading of the OCP changes next week.

If the OCP change goes ahead, there would still be zoning and subdivision approvals to get through, as well as the Yukon Environmental Socioeconomic Assessment Act process.

A lease agreement would be signed with the horse and riders association.

Then, lot sales could be expected in the summer and/or fall of 2014, with the relocation of the horse and riders association in the fall or winter of 2014.