The best way to get the city through its current land crunch is a trailer park, says Barry Bellchambers.
The local businessman was making his case for a 45-lot trailer park across from the Takhini Mobile Home Park, which he also owns.
“I think we recognize there’s a need for more entry-level housing,” Bellchambers told council on Monday night.
“Right now, with the cost of housing and the lack of land, there’s a need for housing.
“We’d like you to rezone this so we can get going on this mobile home park.”
It will be a nice development. He plans on putting in a combination of modular homes and refurbished trailers and hopes to get the development started as soon as he gets the land, if it’s feasible.
But, to find out if it’s feasible he has to get the zoning.
With the zoning he can get a quote from the Yukon government as to how much the land will cost.
And, if the price is right, he’ll buy it, he said.
“We haven’t done a feasibility study; we can’t do one until it’s been rezoned and the YTG has appraised it,” he said.
Answering questions from council, Bellchambers said his interest in the land is above board.
While no one else will have a chance at acquiring the land, the process was fair, he said.
He was the first one to identify and apply for it — putting him at the head of the line, he said.
“The land was there, we just walked in and talked to YTG.
“YTG doesn’t advertise all of this land is for sale.”
If the land, which is designated for housing in the city’s Official Community Plan, is rezoned to accommodate a mobile home park and Bellchambers decides not to buy it the zoning will not change back, said city manager Dennis Shewfelt.
“Once the bylaw is in place, it stands. It will remain a mobile home park.”
Selling the land is not within the city’s jurisdiction, only zoning.
Whether the land is rezoned is a matter for council, added Shewfelt.