By: Jeff Pelletier, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

IQALUIT (LJI) – Despite some residents speaking against the idea, Iqaluit city council has voted to move forward on a proposed rezoning of open land in the Tundra Ridge and Tundra Valley areas.

The proposed bylaws would rezone two areas currently designated as open space to be a residential community, which would provide room for single-family homes and be serviced by trucks. Final approval by council is still required.

A public hearing took place at the council chambers before the July 23 city council meeting. City planner Mathew Dodds presented some of the issues and concerns raised during public engagement sessions over the past few months.

He said that people city staff spoke to were “generally excited” about the possibility of more single-family homes in the community.

However, residents of nearby areas had some concerns.

“They expressed concerns with the obstruction of their views, the loss of green space near their homes, concerns of snowmobile and ATV trails being compromised by development, the overcrowding of local schools and more,” Dodds told councillors.

“Staff certainly sympathize with the residents who feel negatively affected by the proposed development, but we did discuss things like the benefits of [the idea], which include walkability, connectedness, more manageable servicing, better transit planning in the future if we choose to have transit, affordability and most important, the management of sprawl.”

Dodds read six emails received from local residents, which echoed the concerns he highlighted.

Another concern raised by some was that the consultations were held during the summer, when many people are on vacation or are out on the land.

One resident joined in on Zoom to express opposition.

Among seven members of the public who attended the hearing, resident Andrew Card was the only person to share his opinion on the proposal — one of support.

He said he was looking for a single-family home in the city.

“I definitely hear everyone’s concerns with the area and the impacts to the place, but being a person looking for a home, the opportunity seems exciting to me,” Card told councillors.

When the item came up during the council meeting, Coun. Kyle Sheppard emphasized that at the current stage, council is voting to make the land available for housing and development. He said council is not yet at the stage of granting a development permit for the site.

Sheppard said a lot of the concerns raised by residents can be “mitigated,” and that any development in the city will have an impact on neighbours.

He also emphasized the need for more housing in Iqaluit.

“With the acute housing crisis that we have, for lack of a better term, the stance that we’ve taken is housing by any means necessary, and I firmly believe in that and our ability to develop more housing needs to come by nearly any means necessary,” Sheppard said.

“For the families in our city who are here now and those who move here eventually, the provision of that housing is more important to me than the concerns that were raised tonight.”

Coun. Romeyn Stevenson also voiced his support.

“I do think that it’s extremely important that we find places to develop where we can,” Stevenson said.

“We can make ways of developing this area that make it so that it is – while providing new lots – still satisfactory to the community around it.”

On second reading, councillors voted unanimously in favour of two bylaws: the first will redesignate the lands from “open space” to “residential community,” and the second will rezone the areas from “open area” to “low-density residential trucked services.”

Those bylaws are due to be considered on third and final reading at a future council meeting.