Matonabee Street neighbours critical of a seniorSA国际影视传媒檚 housing project planned for their neighbourhood came out of a development appeal board hearing last weekend uncertain what may lay ahead with its construction.
Colin Baile spoke on behalf of 13 other people for more than two hours at the hearing and made the case that both councilSA国际影视传媒檚 decision and the city staffSA国际影视传媒檚 permit issuance should not be allowed to go forward.
Baile and other neighbours have continued to insist that they do not oppose the merits of the project or the need for seniors housing, but that the decision making needs to be done fairly and with the neighoursSA国际影视传媒� proper involvement.
SA国际影视传媒淲e made the systemic statement that the neigbouring property owners have never been opposed to development on this lot,SA国际影视传媒� he said. SA国际影视传媒淪A国际影视传媒he appeal was about process and that process led to poor choices around what the development could best be.
SA国际影视传媒淭he development appeal board had no authority to deal with neighbours because all of that stuff should have been dealt with by council.SA国际影视传媒�
Baile also opposed the project on issues of procedural fairness where he determined that neighbours were denied access to the projectSA国际影视传媒檚 traffic-impact study.
He argued there are issues of attitudinal and relationship bias involving Coun. Niels Konge and an alleged friendship with AVENS CEO Daryl Dolynny and that Konge didnSA国际影视传媒檛 come to the process with SA国际影视传媒渁n open mindSA国际影视传媒� based on video comments he made as a councillor.
Baile alleges that Konge had a relationship bias with Dolynny as it was his understanding that both are personal friends and business associates. Baile drew from 2012 and 2014 photos from the councillorSA国际影视传媒檚 personal Facebook page showing the two together.
SA国际影视传媒淧lace yourself in the situation where you have a legal dispute with someone,SA国际影视传媒� Baile said. SA国际影视传媒淵ou find that personSA国际影视传媒檚 Facebook page picture of that person with their arm around the judge hearing your case. The caption under the photo is SA国际影视传媒淗anging out with my redneck friends.SA国际影视传媒橲A国际影视传媒�
Baile also drew on quotes by Konge at the Jan. 25 governance and priorities committee meeting saying they demonstrated SA国际影视传媒榓ttitudinal biasSA国际影视传媒� or an unwillingness to be an open-minded decision maker before all submissions were made.
SA国际影视传媒淔or me as a councillor it is super easy, absolutely yes to conditionally permitted use,SA国际影视传媒� Konge said in a committee video.
SA国际影视传媒淚 look forward to this coming to council so I can officially say yes.SA国际影视传媒�
Baile also pointed to Konge saying that the community can SA国际影视传媒渢hrow a wrench into itSA国际影视传媒� by going to the development appeal board, showing attitudinal bias.
Earlier this year, Yellowknife city council approved a proposal from AVENS: A Community for Seniors to construct a special care facility on its property along with 102 seniors independent and supported-living units.
The development permit was granted on April 16.
Baile also opposed the project on issues of procedural fairness where he determined that neighbours were denied access to the projectSA国际影视传媒檚 traffic-impact study.
The City of Yellowknife was represented by staff members Kerry Thistle and Libby Macphail and AVENS was represented by Toby Kruger, lawyer, and Thomas Milan, project manager during the hearing.
Thistle and Macphail contended that the city followed proper protocol throughout the permit process.
Both municipal representatives pointed out that two governance and priorities committee meetings were held and council debated the issue extensively before approval.
SA国际影视传媒淪o it is our submission that council properly followed and approved the permit,SA国际影视传媒� Thistle said.
Milan said during his presentation that AVENS feels it has met the concerns of several representatives, not only neighbours but the federal and territorial government, AVENS residents and non-government organizations like the Yellowknife Seniors Society SA国际影视传媒� most of whom favour the development.
He said time is of the essence as the project was set to break ground on June 1 and there is risk of losing the construction season.
SA国际影视传媒淲e were hopeful construction would begin this spring, but that is not the case,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
SA国际影视传媒淲e sit here today facing the potential of more delays.SA国际影视传媒�
The board has 60 days to decide on the appeal from the date of the hearing.
Baile and other neighbours said that they were pleased to make a case but it is anyoneSA国际影视传媒檚 guess what lies ahead.
SA国际影视传媒淚 felt very confident that our message was heard and whatever happens we have voiced our concerns about the process undertaken by the city and that was the goal and I believe we achieved that goal,SA国际影视传媒� he said.
Dolynny said that the project team does remain concerned about getting as much work done as possible this summer and said that the project hinges on the board making a decision soon.
