The maiden voyage of a new land development protocol between the City of Whitehorse and the Yukon government was a flop.

That's the opinion of Mayor Ernie Bourassa. He said he was hopeful the new protocol, which sees the city take on a more active role in subdivision and infill planning within city limits, would make development and public consultation smoother in the city.

Evidence to the contrary, however, showed that the YTG was more interested in playing politics leading up to an election than actually getting new lots on the market, Bourassa said in an interview at city hall Tuesday.

'It was the maiden voyage ... it's not the Titanic, (but) there were too many captains on the ship trying to direct it,' Bourassa said.

'I had high hopes that we could avoid this type of issue, but I guess that's impossible to do when politicians are looking for votes.

'There is no question that this is political,' Bourassa said.

While the city had signed a letter of intent and was acting in the spirit of the new land development protocol, he said, members of the government, evidently, had not.

Bourassa said he has no idea how YTG could have three plans for the Porter Creek greenbelt. However, he added that he felt, with the proper planning, the area could accommodate a development, Yukon College endowment lands and a protected area.

The new land development protocol, developed following the Whitehorse Copper development discussions, aims to increase the city's role in development planning within the city of Whitehorse.

Prior to the Porter Creek greenbelt development proposal, new land development within the city of Whitehorse was largely the responsibility of the YTG, which acted as planner and developer.

Pre-Porter Creek, the YTG would choose a piece of land identified in the Whitehorse Official Community Plan, conduct public consultations, draw up development plans, send the plans to the city for the necessary zoning approvals and then develop the land.

Under the new protocol, the city would come up with development plans, give the plans all the necessary approvals, then forward the plans on to YTG, which would then act as the developer.

The new protocol, according to Bourassa, was developed following the Whitehorse Copper debate in which city and YTG officials locked horns over the number of houses and access to the subdivision.

When contacted by the Star this morning, cabinet spokesperson Peter Carr said the protocol is still under review.

'We're looking at it, but it has not been signed off as yet,' Carr said.