In order for Whitehorse's main commercial area to grow and and redevelop, the city should allow eight-storey buildings to be built in the downtown core, says Mayor Ernie Bourassa.

At a presentation of the new downtown plan at Monday evening's council meeting, Bourassa said he favoured lifting height restrictions to allow for dense development and that he felt adding that to the plan would be good for the city.

'If you're going to redevelop areas into a hub, I think you can only do that if you allow eight storeys,' Bourassa said.

Discouraging stand-alone office buildings from locating outside the downtown core as called for in the plan, he added, could lead to increasd rush hour traffic.

The city should allow some stand-alone office buildings in areas such as the Porter Creek lower bench on a case-by-case basis, he said. The lower bench is identified as one of the next major residential areas for the city.

Bourassa's comments were in response to a presentation by city planner Zoe Morrison who explained the city's new downtown plan, which has been developed in co-operation with various stakeholder groups.

Morrison said the plan, if approved by council, would be added to the city's Official Community Plan (OCP).

'We've been working on this since early 2005.,' she said.

'The plan is divided up into six key areas.'

According to council documents, the development of the city's new downtown plan started in March of last year.

'In March of 2005 the city contracted UMA Engineering Ltd. to complete a new downtown plan for the city. This 2006 downtown plan, once adopted, will be brought forward as an amendment to the 2002 OCP.

'The downtown plan provides an overall vision for the downtown, as well as vision statements for each of the defined downtown sub-areas.

'This is followed by specific recommendations, implementation strategies and priorities and included suggestions about related changes to the OCP and the zoning bylaw.'

According to the plan, the city is divided up into six areas including: the Downtown Commercial Core; Riverfront; Old Town; Downtown South; North End Service Commercial Area; and Downtown North.

Visions outlined in the plan for the commercial core include:

• additional core area streetscape improvements, including lighting and landscaping off Main Street;

• improved pedestrian safety;

• additional infill development and reuse of existing structures in the core.

Visions for the riverfront include:

• a quality hotel and convention centre and more commercial and residential development at the former Motorways trucking yard.

Visions for Old Town include:

• maintaining low density, single-family character of the neighbourhood;

• infrastructure improvements including lighting and sidewalks.

Visions for Downtown South include:

• expanded tourism infrastructure including more bed and breakfasts;

• a diverse range of architectural styles;

• enhancing the escarpment area;

• continued integration of supportive and seniors' housing.

Visions for the North End include:

• continued retail, service commercial and industrial developments;

• infrastructure that caters to vehicle traffic.

Visions for Downtown North include:

• redevelopment of underdeveloped or underperforming sites;

• an extension of Third Avenue as a pedestrian corridor linking the core with Black and Ogilvie Streets;

• relaxation of development standards such as parking and setbacks.