The City of Whitehorse is getting closer to making a decision on the controversial issue of building heights.

The subject has been kicking around for more than a year now, sparking frequent and lengthy debates amongst the council members.

Currently, the maximum building height is 25 metres. The council members have been bandying about the concept of allowing buildings up to 40 metres, but that idea was put to rest at Monday’s council meeting, although not in a decisive manner.

The motion asking for such an amendment came to a three to three vote, with Coun. Jocelyn Curteanu absent.

Under city policy and rules of order, a tie motion is considered to be a lost motion. That sank the proposed amendment even before it came to an official vote as a bylaw.

The proposed bylaw read, “The maximum building height allowed in the Mixed Use Downtown Core designation will be 25 metres (approximately 7-8 storeys); however, to promote the concentration of commercial and higher-density residential uses within the Downtown, buildings up to 40 metres (approximately 11-12 storeys) may be considered within this designation. The specific location and regulations for taller building heights within the designation will be identified in the Zoning Bylaw.”

The bylaw went on to read, “Where buildings greater than 25 metres are permitted, they must include design elements to minimize shadow and wind impacts from the proposed development. Built-form studies prepared by a qualified professional may be required when considering any potential shadow and microclimatic (e.g. wind) impacts on the surrounding area of buildings greater than 25 m.

“Provision of community benefits, such as affordable housing, may also be required as part of the development of buildings greater than 25 m.”

Technically, this should mark the end of the building heights debate, but nothing prevents a council member from proposing more changes to the regulations.