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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
Katz rejects Wyatt's beefs with planning unit
Coun. Russ Wyatt (BORIS MINKEVICH/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store
TRANSCONA Coun. Russ Wyatt has amped up his criticism of the City of Winnipeg's planning and land-use division, claiming it's disorganized and biased against developers.
Earlier this month, Wyatt engineered the death of a Corydon Village planning effort by convincing council's property committee to end what he described as an unfair and lengthy process.
A new Corydon planning process is underway with the blessing of residents and businesses. But Wyatt now claims the planning unit is in disarray due to staff turnover and what he characterizes as an anti-development bias.
"The planning department is a mess," said Wyatt, fuming over a city recommendation against the first phase of The Station, a condo project planned for Pandora Avenue. By the time the second phase is complete, developer EdgeCorp Group plans to spend $18 million to $20 million on the site.
Wyatt is upset planners want EdgeCorp to move the first phase's parking lot and have urged the city's board of adjustment to reject the proposal -- after, the councillor claims, the developer agreed to amend its site plan at a meeting that involved Mayor Sam Katz and chief administrative officer Phil Sheegl.
"You shouldn't have to go to the mayor and the CAO on a matter of a simple variance for a condo. This is happening far too often and something has to change," said Wyatt, who fears the project will be rejected when the board of adjustment considers it tonight.
"We shouldn't be constantly putting out these fires. We need a functional planning department, not a dysfunctional one. Everyone agrees there is a problem but nobody's doing anything about it."
Wyatt claimed the problem lies with a lack of expertise in the division, which has lost some of its experienced planners in recent years.
The city has been without a chief planner since March, when John Wintrup quit. He is now a consultant whose projects include EdgeCorp's Pandora Avenue proposal and the redevelopment of the Canad Inns Stadium site.
Other recent departures include former Our Winnipeg project leader Michelle Richard, who now works for the University of Manitoba, and Dianne Himbeault, now with Canada Mortgage and Housing Corp..
The city is searching for a new principal planner to oversee the work of a crew of mostly younger planners, said council property chairman Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan). He agreed more must be done to prevent staff turnover, but insisted the division is neither in disarray nor biased against developers.
"There may be a shortage of business acumen within the attitudes of the planners. That said, with somebody a little more senior, we can uphold good planning principles and still ensure appropriate development happens," Browaty said.
The city denied requests for interviews with planning officials and also declined to make planning, property and development director Barry Thorgrimson available for comment.
In a statement, Sheegl said he has full confidence in the department. "There are many exciting developments going on that the department's staff and management have helped bring to the city," he said.
Katz concurred and dismissed Wyatt's complaints.
The planning and land-use division is one unit within the department of planning, property and development. The department has also experienced turnover at the top, with five directors serving over the past six years. The last three directors did not have planning backgrounds.
Katz called that irrelevant.
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition July 18, 2012 B1
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