Proposed industrial zone in Iqaluit’s Upper Base under fire

A misunderstanding about a question posed to Iqaluit’s planning director could mean that a light industrial development initially approved near the Plateau neighbourhood will not go ahead.

After a Sept. 14 council vote to approve the survey sketch to zone Upper Base, Coun. Mat Knickelbein announced he would move to rescind the motion at the next council meeting Sept. 28.

Iqaluit’s planning director, Michele Bertol, told council that the Upper Base light industrial zone would have tighter rules than usual for a development of that type, because it is right next to Phase 3 of the Plateau residential neighbourhood.

That means some businesses that are classified as light industrial would not be allowed to set up there, including auto garages and snowmobile dealerships.

During the Sept. 14 meeting Coun. Romeyn Stevenson asked for some examples of light industrial businesses.

Bertol said auto garages or snowmobile dealerships – the two examples Stevenson had asked about – would not be allowed in Upper Base because of the proximity to the Plateau neighbourhood.

Knickelbein said he discovered during a break in council proceedings that auto garages and snowmobile dealerships are in fact light industrial businesses, he told Nunatsiaq News in a later interview.

He accused Bertol of misleading the council and downplaying the potential impact a light industrial development could have on the Plateau neighbourhood.

“My concern is that I don’t think it’s necessarily the best place for light industrial as prescribed by the guidelines, up near a residential [zone],” Knicklebein told Nunatsiaq News. “Those are ideal lots for family lots.”

The motion to approve passed 4-3, with Knickelbein and councillors Mary Wilman and Mary Akpalialuk against.

“I think we were not given complete information,” Knickelbein told council.

When Bertol was later asked about her inaccurate definition of light industrial uses, she said she had misunderstood Stevenson’s question.

She told Nunatsiaq News she thought Stevenson was asking what kinds of businesses might be appropriate on Upper Base – light industrial, with extra restrictions – not the general definition of light industrial that only partially applies to the case of Upper Base.

“We’re trying to avoid the type of uses that are similar to a garage that are full of clutter, that are unsightly,” she said. “I wasn’t trying to lie or mislead council. My understanding of the question was that he was asking what types of uses would be permitted in that area.”

At the Sept. 14 meeting Wilman expressed skepticism that even with additional zoning bylaws in place, that the area would be kept free of clutter.

“We haven’t done very well in keeping things clean,” she said.

Councillors also worried about traffic headed for Upper Base travelling through the Plateau subdivision. City crews completed a road connecting the two areas this summer.

Bertol said only Plateau residents would be allowed to use the new road to Upper Base. All other traffic would have to get there via Federal Road.

She suggested signs marking the road as prohibited and enforced by By-law.

“Suggesting a sign there certainly would not deter me as a driver,” Knickelbein said.

“This is an enforcement issue,” Bertol replied. “I think if people will start issuing tickets they will learn.”

Stevenson pointed out that Upper Base Road is often difficult and “borderline terrifying” to drive in winter, which would encourage more drivers to break the law and access Upper Base by the Plateau.

Bertol said the city plans to start work on upgrades to Upper Base Road in the summer 2011.