Erik Nyland has been planning to build a home on a property off Fish Lake Road for years.

Nyland is a proponent with Raven's Ridge Development who is now planning to build his own home on a site left over from the first phase of the country residential development.

He told council Monday night he's been surprised by the strong "Not In My Backyard” response to his plans.

That's especially true given that only one person has approached him to ask him about what he'll be doing on the site, he told council.

As well, he's known of many people who have been on his property looking around the site.

Nyland spoke during a public hearing on his rezoning application, which would see the property rezoned to Country Residential 1 from its current zoning of Future Planning.

Nyland was one of nine delegates to address council on the application, outlining his plans for the 2.3-hectare property.

Many spoke out against the proposed power line that would come in from the Raven's Ridge development, crossing McIntyre Creek and running up a steep slope to his property.

As John Carney noted, the last thing anyone wants to see is an electrical line through a wetland.

"It's not a little deal, it's a big deal,” said Michael Bendall, who's building a home in Raven's Ridge.

He's spoken with both Nyland and the representatives from the Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Board (YESAB) about it.

Nyland noted Bendall is the only resident to have approached him with questions and concerns about his plans.

Bendall reiterated the points expressed by many others.

They have argued the power line will have huge impacts on the creek, the large bird populations that live there and take away from the park setting that's been identified for the area (though the residential property isn't in the park) in the Official Community Plan (OCP).

Nyland told council, he also didn't want to have a power line crossing the creek so other options were explored.

Those included putting in power lines from the Alaska Highway, the landfill and from another development off Fish Lake Road, but they proved to be too expensive and would see much more clear-cutting of trees.

Nyland noted another option would be to go off-grid, powering the home by a generator and other devices such as solar panels.

Along with not wanting to see a power line through a park setting, many people did not want to see the access road that's planned for the development, again noting it is going through a spot that's identified in the OCP as a park.

"People are seen enjoying that park every day,” said Rosh Govindasamy, a resident of Raven's Ridge.

Nyland noted the road isn't finished but must conform with national standards. It won't be two lanes, but is required to be six metres wide.

"That's what I'm permitted through YESAB,” he said, noting any work he's done has gone through the required permitting process.

Nyland also reassured residents there would not be any blasting required as part of the work and that he has no plans to subdivide in the future.

Subdivision, he said, would be difficult, given the layout of the property.

As they came up one after the other Monday evening, delegates continued to stress the importance of the area for both its recreational and wildlife values.

"What price can you put on the environment and green space?” asked Celeste Bendal.

"To me, it's an absolute gem.”

Council was also directed back to its own plans and policy which call on the city to create a sustainable community.

The Yukon Conservation Society and Yukon Bird Club were among those noting the ecological value of the site.

The bird club's Cameron Eckert went so far as to state the city expropriating the land would be a "great idea” when questioned by Coun. Florence Roberts if that's what he was suggesting in his presentation.

"Whitehorse, is it the wilderness city?” asked Linda Cameron, noting she was amazed council would even consider the development proposal.

"Sometimes ‘no' is the answer,” she said.

With development already happening on the south side of McIntyre Creek, Cameron said, the north side should be left in tact.

"Please protect this area,” she said.

Along with last night's presentations, the city received five petitions to the rezoning from Raven's Ridge residents and 15 written submissions.

Seven of those were opposed to the rezoning, seven raised concerns and one had no issues, Rob Fendrick, the city's director of administrative services, told council.

City staff will bring forward a report on the public hearing next week, with a vote on second and third readings expected to come forward on Sept. 24.