1. What is McIntyre Creek?
McIntyre Creek is a creek that runs northeast from its headwaters on Mount McIntyre across Whitehorse, just north of the Yukon College, and into the Yukon River.
2. What is Middle McIntyre Creek?
Middle McIntyre Creek is the area of land bounded by the Alaska Highway, the existing Porter Creek neighbourhood, Mountainview Drive and Yukon College. The area is approximately 439 hectares in size. McIntyre Creek flows northeast across this area of land.
3. Who are the Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC)?
The Friends of McIntyre Creek (FOMC) is composed of a group of local people dedicated to maintaining the ecological quality of McIntyre Creek in the face of development pressures, and ensuring that the needs of wildlife and natural systems are balanced with recreational and environmental education opportunities in the area.
4. What kind of development is the City of Whitehorse proposing in Middle McIntyre Creek?
The City of Whitehorse is proposing to develop a 200-300 unit subdivision, Porter Creek-D, on approximately 80 hectares of land along the north side of McIntyre Creek. In addition, the City is proposing to build two collector roads through the area: i) the Pine Street Extension, which would run south from Pine Street across McIntyre Creek and then west to the Alaska Highway and ii) the Whistle Bend Connector, which would connect Mountainview Drive with the Pine Street Extension.
5. Why do FOMC and others want to protect Middle McIntyre Creek from development?
FOMC and others want to protect the ecological, recreational and educational values of Middle McIntyre Creek. McIntyre Creek and its associated wetlands and forests has been identified as the largest contiguous Significant Wildlife Area within Whitehorse, providing habitat and a travel corridor for a diversity of wildlife. A subdivision and roads in Middle McIntyre Creek would intensify and concentrate human use of the area and the accompanying light, air, water and noise pollution would not only impact wildlife use of and movement through the area but also reduce the quality of recreational and educational experiences for all time. Many other cities in Canada are seeing the benefits of preserving wild spaces in their interiors despite development pressure; FOMC feels that the long term benefits to quality of life from preserving the ecological functions of McIntyre Creek far outweigh the benefits of the proposed Porter Creek-D subdivision.
6. Why can’t the city have both a subdivision and greenspace in Middle McIntyre Creek?
Middle McIntyre Creek is approximately 439 hectares in size. Of those 439 hectares, 93 hectares are designated Institutional/Yukon College and 0.3 hectares are First Nations lands. About 80 hectares of the 439 hectares is proposed for the Porter Creek-D subdivision. However, this 80 hectares does not include the land that will be needed for roads and other infrastructure which would greatly increase the physical footprint of development. In addition, the impacts of the Porter Creek-D subdivision and accompanying roads would extend beyond the 80+ hectare physical footprint to affect not only wildlife use of the area but people’s enjoyment of the remaining greenspace.
6. Middle McIntyre Creek was designated for residential development a long time ago – why shouldn’t the land be developed?
The reason why Middle McIntyre Creek has remained undeveloped for so long despite designation is because unresolved questions about the College Endowment Lands and strong public opposition have stopped the City every time they have moved to develop the land. The Official Community Plan (OCP) guides decision making to ensure a balance is struck between development and conservation. The OCP is not a static document; changes can and should be made to reflect the desires of Whitehorse residents.
7. There is a housing shortage in Whitehorse - don’t we need a subdivision in Middle McIntyre Creek?
The proposed Porter Creek-D subdivision would be unlikely to address the need for affordable, high density housing in Whitehorse. Furthermore, population growth in Whitehorse is hard to predict given the fluctuating mining economy; the city should focus on creating tax incentives to stimulate development of vacant downtown lots and infilling areas that are already serviced by roads and utilities, including Whistle Bend, which will eventually provide homes for 8000 people.
8. Middle McIntyre Creek is already impacted by human activities – doesn’t it make sense to build there?
Existing disturbances in the Middle McIntyre Creek area are concentrated on the south side of the creek and include infrastructure like power line right of ways, the pumphouse and dirt roads. However, the land that will be directly impacted by the proposed Porter Creek-D subdivision is on the north side of the creek, is largely forested and contains a number of popular walking trails. Existing disturbed land in the area can be restored through revegetation projects like the one conducted by the Yukon Fish and Game Association near the Pumphouse Pond in the fall of 2011.
10. Doesn’t the city need roads through Middle McIntyre Creek to handle the increased traffic from Whistle Bend?
Roads through Middle McIntyre Creek would divert traffic from Porter Creek and Whistle Bend to the Alaska Highway - this will not solve the real problem of traffic bottlenecks in the downtown core. Instead, Mountainview Drive should be widened earlier than planned and incentives put in place for carpooling, public transit and active transportation.
Questions? Contact the Yukon Conservation Society 668-5678
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