The Yukon government (YTG) had its first of three open houses to decide the future of the Porter Creek greenbelt Tuesday afternoon and evening.

The open house took place at Yukon College. It was the first of three events designed to collect input from the public that will be forwarded to Premier Dennis Fentie's cabinet.

The cabinet will have the final say on what happens with the land.

In an interview this morning, Eric Magnuson, assistant deputy minister of the Department of Community Services, said YTG officials estimated between 35 and 40 people came out for the open house to share their views.

'What we've seen so far is that all interests have been represented (at the meetings),' he said.

'It's a good opportunity for information exchange and discussion. We're looking forward to hearing (more) views from all sides,' he said.

There are two more open houses scheduled for this week.

One will be held between 5 and 8 p.m. Thursday at the Takhini Elementary School. The other will be held Saturday from 1 to 3 p.m. in the cafeteria of Porter Creek Secondary School.

Magnuson said the consultation period will run to March 15, after which the information will be collected and forwarded to cabinet.

A number of parties have expressed interest in the greenbelt, bordered by Rabbit's Foot Canyon on the west, Mountainview Drive on the east and McIntyre Creek to the south; including Yukon College, the City of Whitehorse and the Porter Creek Community Association (PCCA).

Yukon College, according to the YTG's website, has had a long standing interest in having the area shifted to them as endowment lands to be used for education and revenue generation.

The City of Whitehorse held public consultations in Porter Creek last September and October to unveil its plans to develop 280-plus residential lots near Pine Street.

The PCCA has maintained it would like to have the entire area protected.

Following September's and October's public meetings, the association initiated a petition for referendum to force the city to come up with municipal legislation requiring it to produce a green space plan anytime it wants to develop a new subdivision and hold a citywide referendum anytime it seeks to change an area that is zoned greens space.

According to city bylaws, the city has to develop a bylaw in line with the PCCA's petition by April and take the matter to referendum by July.

In an interview this morning, Lesley Cabott, the city's manager of Planning Services, said the referendum could affect the city's plans to develop the area.

She said while a small portion of the proposed development would not require an amendment to the city's Official Community Plan, a large portion of the area would require one.

'The area towards the Alaska Highway would need an amendment to the city's OCP and that would be subject to referendum (if the greenbelt bylaw comes into being),' she said.