The city’s quarry in the McLean Lake area could be expanded by 8.8 hectares if council votes to sign off on a new lease with the Yukon government.

Rezoning of 3.7 ha currently zoned as Future Planning (FP) and Greenbelt (PG) would also be required for the entire expanded site to be used.

Otherwise, the city would be limited to an additional 5.1 ha for the expansion.

At Monday’s city council meeting, Mélodie Simard, the city’s planning and sustainability manager, brought forward the proposed zoning change.

Pat Ross, the city’s manager of lands and building services, put forward the lease agreement.

In first speaking to the zoning change, Simard noted: “No significant recreational trails that cross the subject area were identified through the YESAB (Yukon Environmental and Socio-economic Assessment Board) review process.

“However, one trail/road travels around the perimeter of the expansion area but should not be impacted by the proposed activities. A large area of publicly owned natural greenspace will be retained adjacent to the subject area.”

Simard went on to highlight the area currently zoned was greenbelt had previously been zoned as Undesignated Rural. When the zoning bylaw was rewritten in 2012, most land with that zoning was changed to FP with a few sites changed to PG.

“As stated above, there is significant existing vegetation surrounding the subject area and the existing PG zoned area does not warrant protection and is more valuable to the city as a quarry,” Simard stated in her report to council.

YESAB released its decision document on the proposal last July, determining it should be allowed to proceed.

“No additional recommendations were made by YESAB regarding the proposed quarry expansion,” Simard said.

Under the Official Community Plan, the site is designated as Industrial.

First reading of the rezoning will come forward next week.

If that is passed, a public hearing on the rezoning would be held at council’s April 23 meeting with a report coming forward on that the following week.

Second and third readings would then come forward May 7.

Meanwhile, speaking to the expansion, Ross highlighted the limited amount of material available in the current quarry.

“It has been determined that the existing lease area contains limited reserves of aggregate causing the City to request a larger lease area.

“A larger lease area will allow continued aggregate extraction while maintaining the City’s existing work patterns and stockpile locations,” he stated in his report to council.

“The lease area enlargement has been subject to a Yukon Land Application, Yukon Socio-economic Assessment Act review, and council is currently considering a zoning bylaw amendment concurrently with this lease request. A current operation and rehabilitation plan has been provided to Yukon government through the lease application process.”

Ross noted a portion of the Trans Canada Trail that runs through the expansion area for the quarry would be relocated “when quarry operations necessitate the relocation work.”

The updated lease would cost the city $150 annually and be in place until Nov. 30, 2022 with a five-year renewal option included.

First reading of the lease agreement will come forward next week.