Yellowknife mayor suggests abandoning effort to improve public access to waterfront on Latham Island

The city of Yellowknife has attempted to improve public access to the waterfront on Latham Island for more than a decade, but local residents have fought council along the way. The mayor suggests it may be time to move on.

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The city has proposed building a public walkway along the waterfront behind Morrison Dr., and licensing docks along the 200 metre stretch. A similar initiative was opposed by residents in 2003, and looked at again by council in 2014.

In a summary of comments compiled by the city, residents voiced concerns over increased crime, litter, noise pollution, maintenance costs, questions of jurisdiction, fire risk, insuranceand shoreline stability from the destruction of old growth trees.

"Over just the 13 years I have been in chambers, an immense amount of staff time and residents time has been taken up with this particular issue," said Mark Heyck, mayor of Yellowknife.

"I have seen this issue come back at least five or six times, and each time opposition is expressed and council doesn't move forward.

"If we are not going to move forward, let's focus on the areas we can improve, and perhaps it's time to let this other area go."

Public use

The city received the waterfront land through two head leases from the Northwest Territories government in 1979. Heyck said under the lease agreement the land must remain as public use. If the city can't meet that requirement, he suggests giving the land back to the territorial government.

"My suggestion for council's consideration is to look at actually severing that head lease, turn the land back to the GNWT, and see if there are other priorities we can get to work on."

That doesn't work for Ann Lynagh. She provided a letter of support for the walking trail to city council. Lynagh wants councillors to take concerns over crime and fire protection seriously, but also stand up for the rest of the city.

"I don't think we should let fear control our actions in the development of the city," Lynaghsaid.

"This is land that belongs to the public I think it's very valuable land and it's not being asked to be developed in some horrible way."

An informal walking trail already exists along the waterfront.

Lynagh questions if the city has reached out enough for comment fromthe general public, and not just the affected residents.

Heyck said instead of developing behindMorrisonDr. council could focus on LathamIsland's Lessard Dr. and Watt Dr., or a marina at the Con Mine remediation site.

Heyck said council would provide answers to the concerns of affected residentsby early 2017. After that, council could vote to give back the land to the territorial government.