Jeff Leuhmann is looking to expand his Fox Haven neighbourhood by five country residential lots, but he first needs city approval.

The rezoning from Commercial Recreation requires a change to the Official Community Plan (OCP).

'In the original plan, these lots were to be developed as rental chalets or a hotel; however, the applicant believes that changes in the local housing market make residential development a more viable option,' senior city planner Mike Gau told Monday night's standing committee meeting in council chambers.

In November 2003, Leuhmann represented the Meadow Lake Golf and Country Club before council, when he presented an application to purchase 23.6 ha of Commissioner's land, for the purposes of expanding his golf course.

In 2006, however, it was determined the golf course expansion was not economically feasible, and Leuhmann pressed on with plans instead to build a subdivision on the land.

'Mr. Leuhmann then proposed to develop 15.18 hectares of this lease area as 26 country residential lots,' said Gau, reading from a prepared committee report.

The current Commercial Recreation zoning of the five undeveloped lots allows for ski hills, recreation clubs, golf courses, amusement parks and campgrounds, which is why an application to change the OCP and rezone the lots has been filed.

Council heard there already exists a 30-metre buffer zone between the lot boundaries and an escarpment, allowing for future public use and trail development, as well as to reduce erosion and slumping.

Council also heard evidence that EBA Engineering Consultants evaluated the site's potential for water supply well and septic system installation, and found they would not impact surrounding properties.

Gau read a further report from the consultants that says soil conditions on the site are appropriate for onsite sewage disposal systems.

'Yukon Environmental Health and Social Services permits and regulates the construction of wells and septic disposal systems,' said Gau.

City councillors heard this proposal as a first step in the OCP amendment process, which is scheduled to carry through into April.

Gau said the Municipal Act requires a 21-day waiting period following public notification of the amendment, in addition to the three readings it must pass and the public hearing report that must be presented to city council.