Council spurns bid to build trailer park

The city has spoken, defeating Barry Bellchambers' application for a new trailer court.

The city has spoken, defeating Barry Bellchambers’ application for a new trailer court.

Councillors said Tuesday evening that once and for all, the city and territorial government must sit down and decide how to fairly distribute and develop YTG-owned land parcels within city limits.

Other councillors said another trailer court is just not an ideal use of land in that area.

“I know the goal is affordable housing, but I think we might get carried away by trying to cater to this,” Coun. Dave Stockdale said via telephone.

He called in to Tuesday evening’s council meeting from Victoria, where he is on vacation. “Down the road, it is not a good development in that particular area.

“It’s short-term gain for long-term pain,” he said.

Stockdale asked his fellow councillors to consider the city’s land use plans, adding that another trailer court in the area would further diminish limited green space.

“It’s not a very nice area to live,” said Stockdale.

His fellow councillors took exception to this comment, lambasting him for judging a home style enjoyed by many Whitehorse residents and councillors alike.

“I get the feeling there’s an undercurrent of ‘we don’t want trailers,’” said Coun. Jan Stick.

Indeed, three residents told council at a public hearing March 10 that another trailer court in the area would be too many.

“I take exception to Coun. Stockdale’s comments, because I live in a trailer court,” said Coun. Florence Roberts.

“It’s not the trailers; it’s just not good planning,” said Stockdale.

Coun. Doug Graham said he was not concerned with the esthetics of the proposed trailer park, which was to be called the Malamute Saloon.

Rather, he said, it is not fair that Bellchambers stood to purchase a residential land lot from YTG, while other city developers bid for lots in lottery processes.

“We can’t allow YTG to continue directing development within the city of Whitehorse,” he said. “That’s what’s happened here, and it’s put the developer in a heck of a position.”

Bellchambers had applied to purchase the land parcel wedged between Range Road and Mountainview Drive last summer.

The sale from YTG was contingent upon council’s approval of a re-zoning, from UR-Undesignated Rural to RP-Residential Mobile Home Park.

The bylaw defeat means YTG retains the land and Bellchambers is out of a deal. He said he will continue operating the Takhini Mobile Home Park across the road.

He told the Star before council’s vote that if the application was defeated, he would not pursue it any longer.

“It’ll be back on the market,” he said of the land parcel.

“We have to sit down with YTG and come up with a public process to sell land, with equal access to purchase it,” said Graham.

“Of course, there’s the argument that this land sat there and anybody could have taken it, but that is not the same as saying, ‘here, this land is available.’ “

Graham said he was voting against the application “simply because of the way it was done.”

Mayor Bev Buckway then proposed city administration write YTG a letter, “to sort that out.”

Graham, Roberts and Stockdale voted against the proposal, while Buckway, Stick and Coun. Jeanine Myhre voted in favour. Coun. Dave Austin was not present.

When there is a tie amongst council, it is counted as a defeat, confirmed administration.