Some Yellowknife residents have voiced their concerns in response to the City of Yellowknife proposing to amend a zoning bylaw.

The city's proposed change is so it can permit creating five multiSA国际影视传媒恥nit lots along Gitzel and Matonabee streets. Residents' filed concerns, which are, deal mostly with related logistics. 

"I am not in support of the proposal to change the zoning," reads an email signed off by Walt Humphries Diane Baldwin. "The city is trying to fit way too many people into a small space, which is basically an existing corner park of a residential neighbourhood on a very busy traffic corner."

The two also want to know where people would park. In response, the city said these lots have been designed to ensure new developments align with the current character of the surrounding area. Each unit would also need to have one offSA国际影视传媒恠treet parking space.

"The lot widths allow for six parking spaces per lot, which can be accommodated either at the front or rear via a driveway," according to the municipality. It added that a formal traffic study isnSA国际影视传媒檛 needed, as the expected traffic increase from the 30 new units is minimal.

Garbage collection

Another concern Humphries and Baldwin raised is whether the new units would affect garbage pickup or increase litter. The city stated that property owners are responsible for garbage collection in multiSA国际影视传媒恥nit developments.

"Given that each lot will contain between two and six units, the required bin size is expected to be smaller than those used for apartment buildings," according to the municipality. "The city also offers assistance in setting up appropriately-sized waste containers and provides support, including kitchen catchers, for each unit to reduce garbage intake."

Light

Residential homeowners Kathleen Racher and Zabey Nevitt suggested that these buildings will impact the light available to other neighbours, especially in winter. The city clarified that the maximum permitted height in the proposed zone is identical to the surrounding, which is 12 metres. 

"There is no adjacent house to the rear of the proposed lots. Staff are confident there will be no shadow impact because of the proposed development," the city stated.

Neighbourhood character

Laurie McGregor and Sam Kennedy were among a few that voiced a prominent concern raised by other households: the neighbourhood's character and whether these duplexes, fourSA国际影视传媒恜lexes, or sixSA国际影视传媒恜lexes would be in line with the neighbourhood's existing criteria. 

They argued it's disingenuous for the city to say a six-plex fits the neighbourhoodSA国际影视传媒檚 character just because there are apartment buildings on another part of Gitzel Street. 

The city stated multiple times in its report that lot sizes and building heights will remain comparable to existing singleSA国际影视传媒恉etached lots.

"The neighbourhood already features a mix of housing types SA国际影视传媒� including singleSA国际影视传媒恌amily homes, townhouses, apartments and senior housing SA国际影视传媒� making it wellSA国际影视传媒恠uited for a multiSA国际影视传媒恥nit development," it contended.

Why not develop somewhere else?

In Yellowknife, only one per cent of land is available for new development, forcing the municipality to get creative when it comes to adding housing and opting for denser housing choices. 

According to the city, this amendment would fall in line with its intensification strategy, which aims to increase housing opportunities. Current zoning regulations on these streets do not permit such development, however, which is why the municipality needs an amendment. The city owns the lots on Gitzel Street. Other lots in the downtown area are privately owned.

Minor blasting may be required, according to the city. Some trees near Gitzel and Matonabee streets might also be removed. 

The city has not yet determined how these lots would be sold.