After calling plans for a course expansion unworkable, a partner in the Meadow Lakes Golf and Country Club Ltd. is proposing to build a country residential subdivision in a location previously eyed for the creation of an additional nine holes of golf.

In an interview this morning, Meadow Lakes operator Jeff Luehmann said he's spent $70,000 coming up with the 27-lot development proposal after determining that expanding his course would be economically unfeasible.

'Right now we're doing about 15,000 to 20,000 rounds (of golf) per year. We would have to be doing 35,000 rounds a year to make a back-nine workable,' Luehmann said.

'It would be business suicide (to build the back nine).'

He said his plans to build 27, 0.5-hectare country residential lots, and resort chalets on an additional two commercial properties, would fill a niche in Whitehorse and help ease some of the development woes currently being experienced in the city.

'This is a business decision,' he said.

Contacted this morning, Mayor Ernie Bourassa said he preferred not to comment on the proposal until he's had a chance to review it. He did say he expects there will be some public debate on the issue.

'I do not want to comment on it until it comes before council ... (but) I expect there will be some huge public discussion,' he said.

According to the project proposal, filed under Yukon Environment and Socio-economic Assessment legislation, the proposed development would be called Fox Haven Estates Rural Residential Subdivision and Resort.

The report has been filed with the Yukon government's lands branch, the Department of Highways and Public Works and the Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board.

According to the proposal, the potential project is to occur on land now held by the golf course under a surface lease agreement for golf course expansion.

'(The) project is to clear and construct 27 country residential lots for sale to the public, adjacent to Meadow Lakes golf course on land presently held under surface lease for golf course expansion ... and request has been made for agreement for sale for the subject lands.

'The area of focus for this project is a site of approximately 23.6 hectares on a plateau bounded by the Meadow Lakes course to the west, and the Yukon River to the east.'

The report also states Official Community Plan and zoning amendment applications have been filed with the city and further permits for highway access and land clearing would be required.'

The proposed development, according to the documents, is located 80 metres from a local creek and 170 metres from the Yukon River.

'Spring/summer 2006 is proposed as the construction period.'

The proposal lists two first nations, the Yukon Electrical Company Ltd., which holds a lease in the area, and area residents as interested stakeholders.

'The study area lies within the Kwanlin Dun First Nation and Ta'an Kwach'an Council traditional territories. There are two pieces of unrecorded settlement lands within the study area.

'The owner of Meadow Lakes has hosted an open house to explain the proposed development to area residents.'

The proposal also states that multi-family units were considered but discounted as an option as there was a 'lack (of) sufficient market support' for high-density housing.

Meadow Lakes received zoning approval for the back nine in January 2002 when city council rezoned the area from Future Development to Parks and Recreation.

At the time, council agreed to rezone the property on the condition that a visual barrier be created between the nine-hole development and nearby neighbours.

See related story below.