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Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION

Big commercial site on city's outskirts near approval

By: Bartley Kives

Posted: 09/12/2012 1:00 AM | Comments: 0

A 600,000-square-foot commercial development planned for the western edge of Winnipeg has cleared a major hurdle at city hall.

City council's property committee voted Tuesday to rezone 43 acres of agricultural land west of the Perimeter Highway, paving the way for Shindico Realty to build a new commercial development called Westport Festival.

The non-profit Red River Exhibition has agreed to sell the land to Shindico, which intends to build a hotel, retail stores and a movie theatre on the site, said St. Charles Coun. Grant Nordman, who represents the area.

As a bonus, the Red River Ex can use proceeds from the sale to fund the development of its new agricultural campus, which includes a new home for the Dairy Farmers of Manitoba, Nordman said.

The deal is conditional on Shindico being able to develop the land, Red River Ex CEO Garth Rogerson said. Westport Festival is part of a larger planning precinct around the Red River Ex grounds, he said, adding a traffic study for the overall plan is underway.

The land was identified as a future commercial development when the City of Winnipeg completed its long-term planning framework, Our Winnipeg, two years ago, said council property chairman Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan).

He said he does not believe this project -- and the larger Seasons of Tuxedo development planned for Kenaston Boulevard -- constitute sprawl.

"It's not about growing up or out, exclusively. It's about doing both," he said.

Browaty said he is not certain whether Shindico will proceed with a plan to erect a sign as high as the Statue of Liberty on the site, which he described as a precedent-setting height. Such a height may be needed for the site to be visible from the Perimeter Highway, he added.

Nordman, however, said he has no issue with a 47-metre sign. "Bigger is better," he said.

The development still faces executive policy committee and council approval.

bartley.kives@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 12, 2012 B2

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