Developers proposing a quarry near Valleyview acknowledged concerns of those living closest to the site on Monday evening. They also highlighted their commitment to work toward mitigating those concerns.

“We know some of the citizens are concerned,” Ben Asquith, chief executive officer with the Da Daghay Development Corp., told city council during a presentation Monday night.

He emphasized that the Da Daghay Development Corp. – the business arm of the Ta’an Kwäch’än Council – is planning to hold another open house and is open to hosting more sessions if they’re needed.

Asquith also suggested the federal regulation for a minimum buffer of 15 m around the 12.2-hectare site south of Valleyview would help alleviate concerns around noise, dust and such.

As it was outlined in an administrative report brought forward to council by city planner Mike Ellis, Da Daghay has also proposed that:

• active quarrying would be limited to one month each year, with hours of operation being Monday to Friday 7 a.m. to 7 p.m.;

• dust controls that would include covering stockpiles and applying water to reduce dust travelling off site;

• a vegetative berm would be put in place along the highway to screen the quarry, help contain stockpiles, reduce noise and dust impacts and help the quarry blend in better with the area; and

• there would be regular site monitoring, a secured gate and notification signs in place around the property to ensure public safety.

“All mitigations will be reviewed as part of the future YESAB (Yukon Environmental Socio-economic Assessment Board) application for the quarry which will occur after the OCP amendment,” Ellis noted.

“YESAB may recommend additional mitigations outside of what the applicant is proposing. TKC (Ta’an Kwäch’än Council) will be the decision body for this YESAB application since the proposed activity falls on settlement land.”

In order for the development corporation to move ahead with its plans, an amendment to the city’s Official Community Plan (OCP) is needed, with council set to vote on first reading of the amendment next week.

While the OCP specifies a 300-m buffer between quarries and residential areas, the development corporation is asking for an exception to that for areas not yet developed that are next door to the site. An example is the former tank farm area.

The nearest current residential area would be Valleyview, which is about 330 m from the site.

As Ellis outlined, the change would see the OCP designation be changed from Residential-Urban to Natural Resource.

“It’s believed there’s approximately 1.6 million cubic metres of accessible gravel and sand available on the parcel,” Ellis highlighted in his report.

As Asquith said in his presentation, the quarry is expected to have a 15- to 20-year lifespan, depending on demand for material.

After that, it’s anticipated the site could be used for development.

“After the quarry, we’re really going to need to look at what is the market going to tell us at that point in time, whether it’s residential or commercial (development),” Asquith said.

In his report, Ellis highlighted portions of the OCP that note as planning for First Nations land occurs, there may be required amendments to the OCP.

As well, the city “shall continue to foster and promote positive communications with (Kwanlin Dun First Nation and TKC) on land use issues in the Whitehorse area,” Ellis said.

The city and the two local First Nations also signed a Declaration of Commitment in 2018 which emphasizes the importance of strengthening the relationship among the three governments.

A lengthy discussion by council followed, with members confirming details of the proposal and the process for the OCP amendment.

If first reading is approved next week, the public meeting would be set up ahead of a public hearing at council’s April 8 meeting.

A report on the public hearing would then come forward on April 29, with second reading set for May 6.

If second reading is approved, there would then be a 45-day ministerial review at the territorial level before it would come back for third reading.

It’s anticipated that third reading would come forward at council’s July 8 session.

Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu attended Monday’s session by conference call.

While Coun. Samson Hartland had planned to do the same, technical problems didn’t allow him to call in.

Mayor Dan Curtis acknowledged that Hartland was following the proceedings online.