City builders need a 28.2-hectare rock quarry to expand the sewage lagoons.
Just to be sure, they’re obtaining another 64.5 hectares to allow for “future development.”
“We only have a plan to take what we need, and the rest of it would be used for the future,” said Wayne Tuck, acting director of operations.
Placing 64.5 extra hectares into the hands of future city councils could be a volatile arrangement, said councillor Dave Stockdale.
The extra land would only be used for gravel - if needed - say planners.
Nevertheless, the land grant is a free pass for wayward city councils to build houses, or any number of nongravel developments, said Stockdale.
“Let’s just take that 28 hectares and move on,” he said.
The land, located along the Old Livingstone Trail, would be obtained free from the Yukon government.
Other councillors applauded the move.
“We’re planning ahead here, and I can’t see anything wrong with it,” said councillor Florence Roberts.
If the city is going to be adding 7,000 people to the Whistle Bend subdivision, it’s obviously going to need some more rock at some point to upgrade the sewage lagoons, she said.
The Old Livingstone Trail, popular among dog mushers, will be preserved with a 30-metre-wide easement running through the quarry.
Whatever happens, the fate of the 64.5 hectares will be in the hands of a city council up to “20 years” from now, disconnected from the sage plans of the 2009 council, said Stockdale.
“But Mr. Tuck will still be here in 20 years,” said Roberts.