City council is scheduled to vote at its meeting Monday on a proposed zoning amendment to allow for a multi-unit housing development at 410 Cook St.

The project proponent is looking to build a four-storey apartment building with 16 micro-units and two commercial spaces for lease.

The project has received funding from the Yukon Housing Corp. that would guarantee at least 10 of the 16 units would be maintained as below-market affordable housing units for the next 20 years.

The Cook Street lot is located two lots behind the Chilkoot Inn, next to the four-storey apartment building located directly behind the inn.

The single-storey home that had occupied the lot was removed in early 2020. To make the project economically viable, the proponent has indicated they need a reduction in the parking requirements, says the administrative report presented to council at its meeting Monday.

The proponent is looking to remove the requirement to provide two visitor parking stalls, to remove the requirement for a loading space and reduce the requirement for eight residential parking stalls to seven.

Of the 14 written submissions received for the Feb. 22 public hearing into the proposal, eight were opposed largely on the issue of reducing the parking requirements.

There were concerns about the impact on on-street parking, and additional traffic congestion, and the effect it would have on clearing snow in the winter with more parking on the street.

But the city’s development review committee has reviewed the application and found it to be acceptable.

The use of on-street parking in that area is relatively low, says the report.

It also notes on-street parking will be better accommodated when the section of Cook Street is reconstructed later this year and angle parking is established.

The report says it is generally accepted those who live in affordable housing are less likely to have a vehicle. While some members of city council voiced concerns Monday about reducing the parking requirements, there was no outright opposition expressed.

The three public hearing responses that supported the project were in favour of creating more affordable housing downtown.

The location is seen as ideal for affordable housing units as it is close to a grocery store, convenience store, an elementary school, Shipyards Park and transit stops, the report notes.

Those living in affordable housing often use active transport such as walking or cycling.

“Council’s strategic priorities support partnerships with the private sector and territorial government with respect to attainable housing,” says the administrative report. “The Safe at Home plan further suggests incentivizing ‘micro home’ developments through zoning, and the Yukon Housing Action Plan recommends municipalities to overcome policy barriers to development of rental units and mixed housing.

“The proposed amendment is in line with these documents.”