First Nation gets bylaw passed for new Whitehorse hotel, but not without angering chief

Two Yukon First Nations are getting their 20-metretall hotel, following heated debate in Whitehorse city council chambers.

City councillors voted Monday night to allow the Kwanlin Dun and VuntutGwich'in First Nations to build a hotel that exceeds the height restriction on downtown buildings.

City councillors voted three to two to pass a bylaw allowing the River's Edge project to be 20 metres in height on all sides, up from amaximum of 15 metres on Front Street and 12.5 metres on the waterfront.

Chief 'extremely upset'by councillors' comments

WhileKwanlinDun Chief Doris Bill ispleased the project is going ahead, she saidshe was "extremely upset" about statements made by councillors Samson Hartlandand Betty Irwin, who voted against the bylaw.

Hartland said he had concerns about a domino effect on height relaxation throughout downtown Whitehorse.

Irwin saidthe city shouldn't encourage privatization of the waterfront and letit "become aplayground for well-heeled private enterprise."

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Bill said Irwin's comments left her speechless.

"Nobody cares for the waterfront more than the Kwanlin Dun people," she said. "We have watched while our people have been pushed out of the waterfront for years and to call us 'well-heeled,' after all of that," Bill said.

Bill said the comments made by Hartland and Irwin "showstheir ignorance" of First Nationpeople and their history.

"They shouldknow better," she said.

Mayor supports project

Bill said she appreciated the comments made by Mayor Dan Curtis, who spoke in favour of the project.

Curtis said allowing the height relaxation was an easy decision for him, given the role and history of theFirst Nation along the waterfront, and the demand for hotel rooms in Whitehorse.

"To suggest that we're blocking it [the waterfront]off, or building up some kind of wall or obstacleis just notaccurate, it's not fair," Curtis said.

"Quite frankly, it really pissesme off when I hear how we're blocking it off with one building that we need so desperately."

The River's Edgemixed-use project is to be located next to the Kwanlin Dun Cultural Centre on Front and Ogilvie streets.

At a city council meetingearlier this month, a project manager for theKwanlinDun's Chu Nikwn Development Corporation saidthe hotel's initial design ideas include rooms with angled windows so every guest has a view of the water.

With files from Mike Rudyk