There will be no paving of paradise nor putting up parking lots in Middle McIntyre Creek in the immediate future.

On Monday evening, before joining the rest of council in voting to drop planning for Porter Creek D for now, Coun. Betty Irwin said she couldn't help but remember the lyrics to Joni Mitchell's Big Yellow Taxi.

"They paved paradise, and put up a parking lot,” Irwin recited as she noted what treasure the city has with the Middle McIntyre Creek area.

Irwin voted in favour of city staff's recommendation that cancelled the planning and engineering contract for the area and put off any further consideration of development until lots are put on sale for the seventh phase of Whistle Bend.

Irwin noted, however, that she would have preferred another option of cancelling the contract and taking the area out of the city's growth strategy so it wouldn't be considered in the future for development.

Like many who have spoken out against developing homes in the area, Irwin noted she'd like to see it designated as a park instead.

There's been significant public opposition to residential development in the area. While many have argued they want the site preserved as a park, others have noted the need for the land to be used by Yukon College as endowment lands in the future.

"This is a treasure,” Irwin said, adding if it's developed, it would be lost forever.

With each planning exercise done on it, the city gets closer to developing, she argued.

"We can never replace it if we keep planning for it,” she said, questioning Mike Gau, the city's director of development services, about the recommendation.

When it came forward for discussion last week, the proposal stated consideration for planning on Porter Creek D wouldn't be considered until Whistle Bend was 75 per cent built-out.

As Gau explained last night, that was changed to the seventh phase of Whistle Bend so it was more clear and could be pinpointed to a certain point in time.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu was quick to point out that even if council had taken the area out of its growth strategy so it wouldn't be considered for development later, there is no guarantee that a future council wouldn't bring it back for consideration.

At least in the near future, there won't be pressure to develop the area, she said, noting she also doesn't want the area developed.

Veteran councillor Dave Stockdale also noted he's learned his lesson in voting something for "in perpetuity” and the cost that can have on the city.

"Things change,” he said, noting his support for the recommendation brought forward by staff.

"It's a win-win as (former mayor) Don Branigan would say,” he said, a statement Mayor Dan Curtis would echo later during the discussion.

Meanwhile, Coun. John Streicker focused on the public trust he believes needs to be restored with council.

He noted that from a sustainability perspective, it's important to consider how the area will be used in future years – whether as a park, for the college and so on.

Trust needs to be built with the city though, he said.

The option council later voted in is a fair one, Streicker said. He hopes it will help build that trust so such issues can be tackled differently going forward, he added.

Coun. Mike Gladish stated his agreement with many of Streicker's comments.

He also noted his disappointment that planning work won't continue, as he had a vision of affordable housing for the area.

While Gladish noted his thoughts that planning for the area would have provided more certainty, he said this is a good compromise.

Curtis mentioned the extensive private development that has happened in the past year.

There is ongoing work that will see more housing opportunities open up in Whistle Bend and the former tank farm near Granger, among others, the mayor added.

Coun. Kirk Cameron was absent from last night's meeting.

While he tried to attend by conference call, there were a number of technical difficulties. That meant he was only available for one vote, earlier in the meeting.