Housing plan spurs concerns about preserving green space
Nobody appeared before city council at Monday’s public hearing into a proposed zoning amendment for a piece of land owned by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
Nobody appeared before city council at Monday’s public hearing into a proposed zoning amendment for a piece of land owned by the Kwanlin Dün First Nation.
But there were two written submissions received – both objecting to the zoning amendment.
The Kwanlin Dün settlement land is located behind Falcon Drive in the Copper Ridge neighbourhood.
It’s currently zoned as future planning. The First Nation is requesting it be rezoned to comprehensive residential to allow for the development of housing.
One submission notes the area behind Falcon Drive has a steep slope which is not conducive to housing.
As well, allowing the development would see new lots back onto the property lines of existing homes, says the submission.
It says people bought lots on Falcon Drive specifically for the green space behind their homes.
Kids play in the area, and it’s used by ATVers and dirt bikers, says the submission.
It suggests there are other areas in the city available for housing developments.
“Why build in an area with older homes?” asks the submission. “You are going to mess up the neighbourhood in Copper Ridge.”
A second submission noted the very popular green space behind Falcon Drive would be lost.
It says the walking area behind North Star Drive and Falcon Drive is heavily used.
The wilderness feeling people get when they are enjoying walking back there would be diminished or lost, the writers suggest.
As a compromise, as the development is “inevitable,” they proposed that a large buffer be retained between existing housing and the new housing.
The proposed zoning bylaw amendment is scheduled to go back before city council on Aug. 8 for second and third readings.
The administrative report prepared for city council last month says the Kwanlin Dün development is being proposed in two phases.
The first phase would yield 25 lots for single-detached homes or duplexes, with the second phase yielding 72 lots. The lots will result in land leases to potential residents.
City administration is recommending council approve the zoning amendment.
In its review of the proposed development, the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board found the impacts of the proposal are not expected to be significant.
The Yukon government issued a decision document last March supporting the assessment board’s recommendation that the project be allowed to proceed.
Comments (15)
Up 21 Down 2
SM on Aug 3, 2022 at 11:40 am
We need affordable housing!!... just not in my backyard!! let's not be building any new houses or developing new lots and certainly not where it makes sense to do so...
Up 12 Down 9
What we have here is a failure to speculate on Aug 3, 2022 at 3:56 am
Maybe they should talk to their realtor about full disclosure - LOL! Paying huge mortgages on expectations and beliefs that were not verified - Serves them right! What was the price bump for a greenbelt home? Was it listed as a selling feature?
Let the real estate scams continue if only in the minds of the purchaser… You picked it! Sell your home and move into the burbs and quit your bellyaching. Or, you can stay and reconcile your grievances with KDFN.
But anyways, you can just pretend that you are saving the environment like the Liberals do. Scream and squawk! You can always drive your electric car somewhere to go for a walk. This way you can sport your new Lulu Lemon wear and stop at Starbucks for a white mocha coffee. Take pictures with your iPhone and post them on social media with your complaints while you contemplate the next leftist cause du jour.
Don’t worry. Maybe you can ask your new neighbours if you can use their greenbelt?
Up 13 Down 2
Nathan Living on Aug 2, 2022 at 6:31 pm
The Kwanlin Dun Lands department has very professional staff.
When dealing with the public and the city it's amazing how much thought they give to responsible development. It's quite a contrast to the way the City of Whitehorse operates.
Up 7 Down 23
Death Cult Liberalism on Aug 1, 2022 at 5:20 pm
So, does this mean that people are going to be paying taxes on land they do not own? FFS!
I already paid my reparation monies at the office and now you want more? If you cannot afford to exist, it’s simple, the Liberals have expanded MAID. So, when they tax you into poverty, cause supply chain issues (Covid/Fertilizer/ Food/Energy) they have you covered - Don’t worry Liberals say, you got it MAID!
Up 18 Down 15
melba on Aug 1, 2022 at 1:46 pm
The new lots would be more valuable if they did create a green space between them and existing lots. This would also be better for wildlife. KD has an enormous amount of land in the area and I think they should create a nice development by using 100 feet or so as a walking path area.
Also, who is saying these lots are only available for lease to FN? I'd be fine with it if that were true, it's their land and if they want to make affordable housing for their own relatives, what's the big deal?! But unfortunately I don't think that's going to be the case. The deals they have signed give them the income tax collected from the residents on their land. Like 90% of it, if I remember correctly. So my guess is, the lots are going to be offered for lease to anyone, with hopes that high earners lease them. The cost of the lease is going to be a joke compared to what they will rake in collecting the residents' income tax.
Up 25 Down 4
Jeff Bikaboom on Aug 1, 2022 at 1:24 pm
"It says people bought lots on Falcon Drive specifically for the green space behind their homes."
It hasn't been green space since 1963. The land was part of lot 421 since 1964 then became settlement land officially in 2012. This land would have been set aside during land claim negotiations long before 2012 at a time I will not bother to look up.
So sad for the people who think they are living beside green space. For those people, keep in mind that where your house is sitting was once green space for someone else. First Nations, the same ones you are whining about, would have used the land long before your house was built.
This is the nature of development. People think that development should stop as soon as they have arrived. Sorry to inform you that you are not special. No matter how big of a fuss you make.
I am fairly certain KDFN will be surrendering first nation title for 100 years to allow leasing to non first nation people. Just like the lots by the animal shelter. If this is the case, then it should look like the rest of Copper Ridge as apposed to an extension of MacIntyre Subdivision.
It is questionable if zoning even applies to First Nation land, but either way it is beneficial to everyone in the area that the city, the surrounding residents, and KDFN stay on good terms and work within the city's zoning, even if it needs altered. The alternative is that MacIntyre subdivision gets an extension. KDFN can simply service their own lots and have nothing to do with the city.
Up 24 Down 2
KC on Aug 1, 2022 at 8:55 am
Pretty sure you aren't supposed to be ATVing or dirt biking in that area and it would be small for that purpose anyway. Most people go down Hamilton and out.
Up 6 Down 28
Yukonr on Jul 31, 2022 at 9:13 pm
So only lease to FN will be allowed, not to mention all the new FN voters brought into the hood.
Up 19 Down 8
Jeff Donaldson on Jul 31, 2022 at 8:18 pm
More WHC planning nightmares!
Bah hahahaha!
Good luck NIMBYs!
Up 32 Down 12
martin on Jul 31, 2022 at 9:28 am
I am NOT ashamed to say "these people" that are against development deserve not-to-be in a city environment. They don't like lots development? There is plenty of room elsewhere in the Yukon. Thanks God they are only a (noise) minority, same as some political parties that at election time only collect a few votes.
Up 16 Down 40
Matthew on Jul 30, 2022 at 4:55 am
I'll be there! Don't worry about that! Madness, also, racist too as only FN can lease the land..
Up 41 Down 8
DL on Jul 30, 2022 at 2:56 am
Ah yes, the "wilderness feeling" experienced in green spaces overrun by ATVs, motorbikes and snowmobiles, that's the main reason why there shouldn't be any new housing... Makes total sense. The new buildings would obstruct the ATVs paths.
Up 52 Down 5
Davis on Jul 29, 2022 at 9:59 pm
What ridiculous submissions. I hope they see these submissions for what they really are - extremely bias and uneducated.
Up 68 Down 4
BnR on Jul 29, 2022 at 6:04 pm
They thought they were buying homes backing on to green space? This KDFN lots have been surveyed since all the neighborhoods up there have been in existence.
Besides, anything can be rezoned. Especially if you’re a certain local architectural firm with solid connections
Up 77 Down 2
Resident on Jul 29, 2022 at 4:36 pm
Those lots were shown on the subdivision plans since the beginning of Copper Ridge. This is not a surprise. Every single home owner on Northstar or Falcon should have known their lots backed onto lots not greenspace.