Arctic Farmer wants to build a new campground in Yellowknife. Whether to permit its construction was up for discussion this past Monday.
The property is located at the end of Kam Lake Road south of Grace Lake. It has no immediate neighbours, barring plenty of vegetation.
That property is typically used for soil operation and sod farming. Last year, Arctic Farmer found 22 campsites and started doing business, but it was not approved as part of their lease with the city.
The campground has stopped its work since.
“Commercial recreation is a permitted use. However, campgrounds are not specifically permitted,” explained Lesley Cabott, a senior planner at Stantec who attended the meeting. “You have a definition in your zoning by-law for campgrounds. And because it was not included in the Kam Lake South Two Zone, this amendment is being brought forward,” she said.
According to information provided, the park is deemed acceptable under city bylaw 5007, which states that the Kam Lake South area is intended for increased tourism and commercial recreation activities, as well as city bylaw 5045, which deals with Kam Lake South Zone 2. That’s dedicated for natural resource extraction, commercial recreation and urban agricultural activities. Commercial recreation is a permitted use under that bylaw.
Building the campground would also mean fixing up a city road that leads to it. Originally, it was getting minimal traffic.
“It’s basically been developed to a one-lane access road,” said Wendy Newton, who works in the public works and engineering department for the city. “Adding a campground would mean holding that road to higher city standards.”
Another priority is fire safety. Charlsey White, the city’s planning and development director explained why.
“In these areas, we are on trucked water and trucked sewer services,” she said. “There will be a conversation with the applicant on what we may need on site should some sort of structure fire occur.”
Mayor Rebecca Alty said she doesn’t think the campground would have any overall negative impact on the surrounding area.
“With those considerations, I would be in support of creating this site’s specific use on this lot,” she said.
A public hearing will happen on March 25 to discuss the proposal further.
—By Devon Tredinnick