A new private sector proposal to turn a former RV park into a mix of new housing opportunities is right up the city's alley, says Coun. Ranj Pillai.

Just as he did last week, Pillai said again at Monday night's regular council meeting the city has been hell-bent to find ways of encouraging initiatives from the private sector to help meet the growing demand for housing.

"We have been talking about this for the last 24 months,” Pillai said before voting to advance the request to change the land designation for the McKenzie Recreational Vehicle Park just south of Crestview.

"Lets get this changed and allow these guys to move forward.”

Bob Darling of R.E. Darling Ltd. has applied to change the commercial designation to residential, with plans to provide 105 lots for a mix of single-family homes and multi-unit housing developments in two phases.

First reading was approved Monday. The matter is now scheduled to go through the public review and hearing required for amendments to the Official Community Plan (OCP).

The hearing is scheduled for Sept. 26. A report to council on the public hearing and review process is scheduled for Oct. 3.

Second reading is scheduled for Oct. 11 and third and final reading is scheduled for Dec. 12, if the required approval from the Yukon government is received from the OCP amendment.

Darling plans to buy the five-hectare property from the McKenzie family, provided the amendment is approved and city council relaxes the optional 200-metre buffer between residential neighbourhoods and industrial subdivisions.

The south end of the development proposal is some 50 metres away from the nearest Kulan property, and both the Ta'an Kwach'an Council and the Kwanlin Dun First Nation have undeveloped industrial property within 200 metres.

In its report to city council, city staff note the OCP states the city "may” provide a 200-metre buffer when residential and industrial lands are next to each other.

Darling said last week in his presentation to city council if he doesn't get a relaxation of the 200-metre buffer, the project would not be feasible.

"We would lose so many lots, I just wouldn't be able to continue with it,” Darling replied when asked by Mayor Bev Buckway. "It's that important.”

The report to council by city staff suggest the OCP's use of the word "may” impose a 200-metre buffer allows for alternatives to reduce any impacts from having residential and industrial subdivisions next to each other.

The former RV park is not connected to the city water and sewer system, though Darling plans to hook into the services as part of proposed development.