Photo by Whitehorse Star
Pat Ross
Drive-thru envisioned for the Kopper King
The city is considering an application to permit a drive-thru at the Kopper King site off the Alaska Highway.
The city is considering an application to permit a drive-thru at the Kopper King site off the Alaska Highway.
At Tuesday evening’s city council meeting, planning manager Pat Ross brought forward an rezoning application by the owners of the site just south of Porter Creek. It would allow eating and drinking establishments there to have a drive-thru.
While the current Highway Commercial zone of the site allows for eating and drinking establishments, it does not permit a drive-thru.
The application is coming forward as the owners try to make the site more marketable to potential buyers. The property has been up for sale for some time.
A gas station/convenience store, restaurant, bar and retail space are in the buildings on the site now, with the 30-home mobile home park behind the commercial site also part of the property.
The only area where drive-thrus are permitted now is in the north end of the downtown area, where a number of fast food joints and coffee shops offer the service.
“Not permitting them in other areas is also in line with the city’s sustainability objectives regarding greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs),” Ross stated in his report to council.
“Policy 4.1.5 of the OCP states that the city may encourage anti-idling above a specified temperature for residents and businesses in Whitehorse.
“Idling at drive-thrus does contribute to increased GHGs. (Natural Resources Canada) has found that one minute of idling by a light-duty vehicle emit approximately 0.14 kg of GHGs.
“Allowing drive-thrus in new areas of the city is contrary to efforts that the city is making towards sustainable transportation mode shifts.”
If council approved the zoning, several zoning regulations around increased landscaping, building orientation, screening of storage areas and on-site pedestrian safety would have to be met, Ross emphasized.
He also explained the Highway Commercial zone is meant to provide high-quality commercial development along major roadways.
Among the permitted uses are eating and drinking establishments (without a drive-thru), gas bars, hotels, retail services and commercial storage.
It was in 1997 that drive-thrus became restricted in the zone as part of the implementation of the 1994 edition of the OCP.
Despite the issues around the OCP and zoning, Ross put forward a recommendation that the zoning amendment come forward for council’s consideration.
Council typically passes first reading on such applications to get it to the public hearing phase, where residents can have their say on the proposal.
Council will vote on first reading next week.
If it’s approved, the public hearing would be held at council’s Dec. 12 meeting, with a report on the hearing being presented Jan. 9.
Second and third readings would then come forward for a vote on Jan. 16.
Coun. Rob Fendrick attended Monday’s session by conference call.
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Comments (22)
Up 12 Down 4
Max Mack on Nov 15, 2016 at 3:59 pm
Certain architects can propose an "affordable", multi-million dollar, micro-housing complex at the KK site and their boosters at YG and the City will happily kick in enough to practically cover the cost of construction. Throw in a few retail spaces and fast food joints, complete with parking-reduced drive-throughs, and YG and the City will probably throw in a few million more.
Problem solved.
Up 4 Down 0
westofbelfast on Nov 15, 2016 at 2:15 pm
Bill Williams: Did you let the police know what you know?
Up 28 Down 3
New mumma on Nov 14, 2016 at 5:39 pm
I take offence at the people who say "too lazy to walk in". I NEVER used the drive throughs until I had a baby. Now I drive into town and only go to restaurants with drive through for my coffee and food. Try the this scenario:
Find a car park downtown
Try not to slam into car next door opening door.
Wrestle with car seat out of car. Wake baby in process and she starts to cry.
Waddle towards coffee shop carrying big heavy car seat and crying baby.
Realize left baby hat in car and onlookers staring at "freezing crying baby".
Navigate steps and heavy door into coffee shop.
Smash into a few tables trying to get to cramped til.
Put baby carrier on floor while getting change to pay. Worry people will kick/ or fall over / drop hot drink on baby. More bad looks from onlookers.
Now carry hot coffee and carrier out door and down steps.
Carry baby back to car. Realize haven't paid meter and have ticket.
Slam door into car that has parked too close to my car while trying to get car seat into back seat.
Wrestle with car seat back in car.
Realize left coffee on roof of car.
Swear and wish to god I had gone through Starbucks drive through.
Up 27 Down 1
ice cream dream on Nov 14, 2016 at 3:55 pm
Hopefully dairy queen
Up 20 Down 4
makes so much sense on Nov 14, 2016 at 3:38 pm
Come on People! Drive the extra miles downtown to idle your car at the drive-thru's that have the monopoly. That is the GREEN thing to do!
So says John Strieker's Sustainability Department at the COW.
Up 16 Down 0
Doug on Nov 14, 2016 at 9:30 am
@bill w
There being witnesses and "people" "knowing" who did it is a far different thing than being legally able to arrest and charge someone with the probable outcome of a conviction.
Situations like this are probably rarely so black and white and concrete.
I am sure there are people who know what happened...but people are not always cooperative with the police (imagine)....no matter what they tell you they told the police.
As well I am sure it is difficult to find a independent witness. Friends of the victim may have one story... friends of any suspect would have a different one...but neither may be the truth as people normally tell the part of the story they want to tell...not necessarily the whole story. And anyone who is truly independent probably wasn't at the party, so probably didn't see much.
Have you ever investigated a homicide before? Unless the answer to that question is yes...your opinion of what you believe should have happened already, is useless.
Even if the police know who did it...they only have one chance...would you rather they rush it and the guy get off...or take their time and do it right? Life isn't an hour drama where the truth always comes out in at the end of the hour.
And yes...this is very off topic.
Up 8 Down 1
Arn Anderson on Nov 14, 2016 at 9:02 am
Lol, where did our Drive thru off-sales go? Exactly, rectify that and you can have all the drive thrus you want.
Up 34 Down 7
Bill Williams on Nov 13, 2016 at 12:15 am
I know this is off subject but why have we not heard anything about the murder of Matt Devallano. Multiple witnesses but no description.The RCMP have done nothing to alleviate any fears that this killer is still on the loose. An arrest should have happened. I know what happened along with many other people.
Up 7 Down 12
Bill N. on Nov 12, 2016 at 5:59 pm
Martin I see you like to use a lot of the same words jc uses in his post, "environuts", "hello".
Do you guys have a mutual admiration society going or what?
Up 32 Down 4
Just Say'in on Nov 12, 2016 at 3:26 pm
Some one is REALLY LYING here.
One minute of idling = .14 KG WHAT?
.14 KG = 1/3 of a pound so therefore 3 minutes of idling would represent a pound of fuel. This is just ridiculous and should be retracted as a total lie.
The average car when warmed up burns aprox. .1 of a U.S. Gal. per HOUR. So therefore in one minute would only burn .0016 of a U.S. Gal. One U.S Gallon of gas weighs 3.86 KG. So in Ten hours would burn .386 KG that is SIX HUNDRED minutes. So 1 minute would be .0006 of a KG.
I am so sick and tired of hearing this nonsense. Does no one else have a calculator?
Besides what difference what part of town and at what fast food stand it is idling at?
Up 29 Down 1
Just Say'in on Nov 12, 2016 at 2:48 pm
I think some of you are missing the point. KK does not want to sell it's Chicken Wings at a drive through. They are trying to change the zoning so that opportunities for a sale of this property to a Tim's or Burger King or such on the side of the Highway. Every town you go through has Fast Food on the Highway for the traveling public. This should be a no brainer. I am shocked that is was already this way actually. I had no idea.
Up 30 Down 3
Passingby on Nov 12, 2016 at 11:31 am
What a great idea! I pass by there often. As a parent I simply don't go into bars as I am usually with my kid. I hear they have great wings and such a convenient spot for those of us who avoid downtown at all costs. I guess those things are just not top priorities anymore. I'm sure this will be a game changer for mother earth.
Up 26 Down 3
Enus on Nov 11, 2016 at 4:54 pm
Has anyone ever seen what councillor Fendrick really looks like?
Up 25 Down 5
MJ on Nov 11, 2016 at 3:42 pm
Granted I'm not a Huge drive through person but generally they fall into one of two categories. A: they during peak times are slower than walking in and getting a coffee. B: people are too lazy to burn 20 cal to walk into a get a 3000 cal meal.
Either make them legal everywhere and for everyone (not just giving business to chain stores from out of territory) or ban them in city limits for everyone. It's only fair.
Up 6 Down 20
Adele Sandrock on Nov 11, 2016 at 3:21 pm
jc - Yukoner's let their car idle in the winter to keep their tushies warm and idle
in the summer to keep that body part cool. That is not the only reason that even
Canadian's have certainly their share in climate change, like very other nation.
Up 32 Down 2
June Jackson on Nov 10, 2016 at 6:34 pm
Whenever you have a group of people that can set their own wage; give them power over their fellow man. They will take advantage of that. They will give themselves money and perks, and they will exert their perceived 'power'.
People in all countries are generally so over legislated that they practically need a permit to breath. Whitehorse is no different, except that we notice it because we are small.
All the posters so far are right.. what difference does it make if the KK is cleaned up, made attractive.. provides service, which means a few more jobs. That property has been up for sale for a long, long time. Governments should be prepared to relocate 30 families, because I am pretty sure if present owners keep it, or if new owners come in, they will want to build townhouses or condo's. One of the biggest draws in Porter Creek is the strip mall within walking distance of all those new builds.
Up 39 Down 6
martin on Nov 10, 2016 at 6:05 pm
The ""environuts"" came out in force during the last elections and supported their darlings at the NDP........... How did that go? Hello? .... CoW?
Up 37 Down 0
Dustin on Nov 10, 2016 at 5:29 pm
.14 in 1 minute huh, how many minutes do people going through timmies or Mcdonalds sit idling everyday...
Up 55 Down 5
Mugsy of yukon on Nov 10, 2016 at 5:09 pm
Sounds to me like the downtown business core of Whitehorse doesn't want any competition. I would love to see a drive through up top of the city for those many folks you don't want to divert to go down either hill just to grab some fast food on the way home. Get with the times Whitehorse.
Up 108 Down 2
Really? on Nov 10, 2016 at 4:40 pm
So if there is no drive through on the highway and Joe Worker wants a burger he will drive down to 2nd Ave to a drive-through. How many kg of GHG will that result in? I for one am tired of the City of Whitehorse telling us peasants how we should live our lives.
Up 101 Down 5
ProScience Greenie on Nov 10, 2016 at 4:21 pm
How very Soviet Union of CoW. As if the location of a drive through matters. As if not having one more will make a difference in emissions considering the huge number of big trucks coming up the highway every day to stock the big box stores with junk we mostly don't need. CoW is big on green optics but in reality not at all green.
Up 118 Down 17
jc on Nov 10, 2016 at 4:04 pm
These environuts make me sick. This is the Yukon. Its cold up here in the winter and we idle our vehicles to keep warm. Hello! Go bug China for awhile. They are the ones polluting up the planet. Oh yeah, they get mean.