New North/South Neighbourhood Studies

In partnership with Ta’an Kwäch’än Council (TKC), Kwanlin Dün First Nation (KDFN), and the Government of Yukon (YG), the City is beginning feasibility work for the development of two new residential areas in Whitehorse. The City's Official Community Plan (OCP) identified two areas for potential future neighbourhoods. The South and North Growth areas sit on KDFN and TKC Settlement Lands, as well as City and YG land.

In 2017, the City completed pre-feasibility studies for both areas. This work informed the OCP review and set out next steps for the project, such as completing feasibility studies to determine if the areas are suitable for development. In December 2023, TKC, KDFN, YG, and the City signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to collaborate on this project. Throughout the next two years, work will include:

Geophysics Survey
This study will identify shallow bedrock in both areas. Bedrock can impact how and where we build roads, services, and homes.

Traditional Knowledge and Traditional Land Use Study
This study will help us better understand and document the relationship between humans and the land in both areas, for example, through archaeology, oral history, and language. KDFN will lead this work in partnership with TKC.

Wildlife and Winter Track Surveys
This study will help us understand how often we see wildlife such as woodland caribou in the North Growth Area . It is important to understand how often wildlife frequent this area as we may need to put wildlife protection measures in place.

Transportation and Servicing Study
This study will identify infrastructure needs for each neighbourhood. For example, it will tell us what road, public and active transportation, water, and wastewater services and improvements are needed.

These studies will help us make informed decisions about housing growth in Whitehorse.

To stay up to date on this project, watch for updates on this page.