Developers looking to build or redevelop in Hillcrest could have their work cut out for them with a draft neighbourhood plan that sets out limits on height, rooflines, designs and landscaping requirements among others.

The plan, released for comment on Friday, comes after months of public meetings and input sessions.

"We're really excited to release it,” planner Erica Beasley said in an interview this morning.

She pointed to the hard work not only by city staff but also by Hillcrest residents who came out to numerous meetings on the plan.

Residents can submit their comments on the draft plan through email to erica.beasley@whitehorse.ca until Nov. 1.

An open house is set for Oct. 17 from 6:30 p.m. until 9 p.m. at the Yukon Transportation Museum on the Alaska Highway.

Among the 16 key recommendations outlined would be changes to the Residential Single Detached (RS) zoned properties so that the maximum height limit for the steelox duplex properties on Dalton Trail, Park Lane and Hillcrest Drive would be reduced from 10 metres to eight metres, with the elevation of second-storey floors restricted to 3.5 metres.

Rooflines could not be begin any higher than six metres and only certain roof designs – hip, gable and gambrel – are allowed to be more than six metres.

All other RS lots would see building height limits reduced from 10 metres to nine metres, with second-storey floors at a maximum elevation of 4.5 metres and rooflines beginning no

higher than seven metres, with only the three roof designs allowed over seven metres.

All new development would be required to meet landscaping requirements set out in the comprehensive residential zones.

Among other recommendations set out in the 35 page document:

• The Comprehensive Residential Townhouse zone for lots on Hillcrest Drive would see a reduction of the maximum building height from 10 m to nine m, as is already the case through interim controls on the properties. Rooflines would also have to begin at least at seven metres;

• Renovation and adaptation would be encouraged over entire building replacement;

• "Modest” densification would be supported by promoting development of garden and living suites and are in line with the zoning;

• Residential Multiple Housing zones on and east of Summit Road would be amended to Comprehensive Residential Multiple Family in order to put in new requirements, such as

landscaping, for future developments;

• Potential infill would continue to be explored for the neighbourhood;

• Spot zoning would be discouraged;

• Municipal Historic Site designation would be looked at for several properties;

• Intersections at the Alaska Highway and Burns Road, Roundel Road and Hillcrest Drive could be enhanced to improve the entrance to the neighbourhood, reinforcing the character of the area as well as calming traffic;

• The planning department should work with the owners of an undeveloped highway commercial lot to encourage consistent building and landscaping features with the rest of the area;

• Safety concerns would be addressed through traffic calming measures, parking restrictions, the addition of sidewalks and encouraging more active transportation and transit use;

• Bus routing options would be considered to align with new neighbourhood features;

• Street lighting could be improved;

• A park management plan would be developed following the adoption of the neighbourhood plan covering recreational use, environmental protection and stewardship of open space;

• Improved trail signs would be looked at; and

• A master plan would be developed for a central park area of the neighbourhood.

Beasley noted the zoning changes are proposed so that new or redeveloped properties fit with the older parts of the

neighbourhood and address the input that came forward during the initial consultation on the plan.

With much of the original housing still in place, she said, a number of properties may need to be redeveloped or the housing renovated. She doesn't expect the proposed regulations would deter anyone from work that may need to be done to their property.

Following the public input period, Beasley said staff will look at the input and decide if any changes need to be made before the plan either goes to council or, if there are a significant number of concerns, a second draft is released.

While there's no firm date on when a final plan will come to council as it depends on the public comments, Beasley said the city is working to have the final plan adopted by the end of the year.

After that is adopted, work will begin on making changes to the zoning bylaw and the regulations to fit the neighbourhood plan.