Inuvik Town Council is poised to create a new zoning classification to help construction of the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation (IRC)'s new hotel move forward.

Councillors voted 6-0 with couns. Jenn Parrott and Melinda Gillis excusing themselves from the vote due to pecuniary interest, at the Nov. 13 regular council meeting to move amendments to bylaws 2582 and 2583 to first reading.

"Our zoning bylaw and our community plan go hand-in-hand," explained senior administrative officer Cynthia Pihlaja. "The community plan moving forward drives how we zone and what type of zoning we do for our lots.

"Because there is no more building there SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” we are building a brand new building SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” it is brought to our attention that this needs to be rezoned."

Once the regulatory change is completed, work on laying the foundation for the Marriott-chain hotel will take place over the winter, with construction expected to begin the following summer. The total cost of the project is budgeted at $40 million. It will occupy the space previously used by the Eskimo Inn as well as the neighbouring lot approaching Tunnuck Place, which the architects intend to use for hotel parking with 50 parking stalls.

The reason for the bylaw change, Pihlaja explained, was the second lot slated for development is currently considered residential, specifically 'R2.' The lot used by the Eskimo Inn is already zoned for commercial.

The construction will also include a bridge over the utilidor between the two lots... the costs of replacing the utilidor section is budgeted at $1 million to the town, which is reallocated from previously scheduled utilidor work. The previous town council approved the re-allocation on June 26.

A public consultation is set to be held prior to the next regular council meeting on Nov. 27. The bylaws will be voted on a second time following that, after which the bylaw needs to be approved by the minister of Municipal and Community Affairs. The town then gives final approval upon third reading.

"The minister's office is well-aware that this is coming, hopefully that turn-around will be very quick," Pihlaja told council. "I anticipate the Dec. 11 council meeting we will move it to third reading."

Following the bylaw vote, Mayor Peter Clarkson cautioned that plans for the utilidor upgrades between the two lots would not happen until next summer.

"We have checked with the utilidor people as far as scheduling on that construction," he said. "They cannot begin utilidor work in that area between the two components probably until June because the first thing they need to do is to set up temporary water and sewer, and there cannot be freezing temperatures at that time.

"Some of that work was supposed to get done this year, but they got caught up on Carmichael Hill so they didn't get the work done. But they're committed to getting at that first thing SA¹ú¼ÊÓ°ÊÓ´«Ã½” as soon as the snow's gone and we've got warm enough temperatures.

"They can't put the pilings in the ground until they take out the existing utilidor, and they can't do they that until they set up the temporary (water system), so that's the catch. There's just no other room there to work with."