Whitehorse city council has finally approved a master development plan for a long-running saga in the Valleyview area.
The decision came Monday evening – after a last-ditch effort by local residents opposed to the concept.
Coun. Ted Laking said after the meeting the decision is a “big deal”.
“That area has been stuck in development limbo for more than a decade,” he said. “It’s the next subdivision and will be 4,000-plus people. It’s been controversial and died several times in the past due to people not wanting their trails developed, or the loss of greenspace.”
That was in evidence Monday as two people appeared as delegates before council to argue against the approval in a last-ditch attempt.
The city website describes the plan, saying “a new neighbourhood near the downtown core is vital to support some of the city’s housing demand and accommodate future population growth. A master plan will provide direction for the development of this new neighbourhood.

“The Valleyview South area contains a mix of private, government, and First Nation land parcels. The City has hired a consultant firm, Groundswell Planning, to work with the landowners, key stakeholders, and the public to develop the master plan.”
One of the speakers was Sylvie Binette, who has made several appearances on the issue.
She reiterated her previous comments on the need to keep the greenspace in the area, which she said is notable for its foraging potential. She had treated council members to food samples several weeks ago.
The issue provoked a bit of a discussion amongst the councillors, but there wasn’t much hesitation in making the decision.
Coun. Kirk Cameron isn’t a huge fan of the plan, saying he doesn’t see the worth of such master plans, which are more vision statements than practical documents.
“You’ve heard me talk about master plans before,” he reminded his colleagues. “I do not see their value to our overall planning process.
“They increase the level of community anxiety,” Cameron continued.
Cameron noted it’s clear residents in the area “just don’t want development.”
He called the plans “guiding documents” that don’t necessarily mesh with final policies.
Cameron added that he would vote against the plan “on principle,” but eventually abstained on an amendment.
Abstaining, however, goes against city policy, so his vote ultimately counted as a vote in favour.
Laking agreed with Cameron’s thoughts as to the wishes of the residents.
“They want greenbelt, full stop,” he said.
He stressed though, the area known as Lot 66 isn’t intended to be developed, which is a major victory for area residents who want the area preserved for its trails and tranquility. A nurse has told council the area helps her mentally heal from her difficult work in the hospice field.
Lot 66, between Valleyview and Hamilton Boulevard, is where the majority of the greenspace is.
Mayor Laura Cabott called the decision “huge.”
“It’s pretty monumental,” she added. “People in the city have been waiting and watching for development in this area for quite some time. I think it’s exciting. It’s one of the first steps, and there’s more steps to go through. It was a complicated process.”
Cameron’s was the only dissenting vote on the final tally.