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City of Whitehorse looks for proposals for Whistle Bend land use plan
Area between Mountainview and Range Road could house 80 to 85 units
(Note: original article no longer available online)
Talar Stockton, Local Journalism Initiative
Jul 3, 2025 8:30 AM
The project area for a new development in Whistle Bend is shown in blue, labelled “project area.” City of Whitehorse
The city is looking for someone to design a master plan for Whistle Bend South — an area of development between Range Road and Whistle Bend Way.
The project involves “high-level residential neighbourhood planning for approximately 12.2 hectares of unsurveyed land immediately south of Whistle Bend Way, near Mountain View Drive”, per the city staff report brought in front of council on June 30.
The land could support around 85 residential units, and would provide a source of granular material, per the staff report.
A land master plan, which would include a concept plan for the area, is necessary to ensure the logical, coordinated development, per Mathieu Marois of the city’s planning department.
“The concept plan will illustrate possible land uses, major roads, active transportation networks, trails and parks, major stormwater, water supply and wastewater infrastructure, among other things,” he said.
The area serves as a replacement for the growth initially planned for Porter Creek D. Porter Creek D was designated as greenspace in the 2024 official community plan, and it is part of the Chasàn Chùa Territorial Park.
Marois said the land for Whistle Bend South is owned by the Yukon government. The city is looking to finalize a funding agreement with the territorial government to pay for the planning project.
Coun. Paolo Gallina asked Marois about how the area’s traffic would be impacted by adding more residences.
“I would say that there’s probably a fair bit of pressure on Mountain View highway to date, without having done any, you know, comprehensive analysis that I’m aware of,” Gallina said. “And so how will adding 80, potentially up to 85 units, how will traffic specifically be considered on on that route?”
Marois said a traffic impact assessment would be a part of the master plan.
Coun. Dan Boyd said he supported the project.
“We’re not really keeping up with housing supply. We’re struggling, and we’re probably going to continue to struggle in the next, in the coming years, for some time,” said Boyd, calling the project not large but significant.
“And the other piece that’s important about this project is, city is desperately looking for good aggregate, good gravels, and this has the potential for that.”
The council will have the chance to authorize city staff to move forward with soliciting contractors to take on the project through a request for proposals. The timeline provided in the staff report plans for a contract to be issued in September.
Marois said there will be three public engagement periods: one when the project is launched, one during the conceptualization, and one during the unveiling of a draft plan.