City accused of ‘complete about-face’ after Charleswood development turned down

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 16/02/2016 (3625 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A spokesman for a non-profit, life-lease development in Charleswood accused city officials Tuesday of arbitrarily changing its approval criteria.

Brian Wall, with GW Architecture, said city planners supported the project two years ago, adding the design had been changed and improved to meet community and the city’s concerns yet it’s no longer considered acceptable.

“We were very surprised they turned it down because we did accommodate everything that was asked of us,” Wall said. “We were shocked.”

The project was turned down by the property and development committee Tuesday on the recommendation of the city planning department and it goes before the executive policy committee (EPC) Wednesday morning, where it will likely also be rejected.

“It just seems like there was a complete about-face from the city on this,” Wall said. “Two years ago, they were in full support….We’re just confused.”

The Charleswood United Church has made a conditional sale of the southern portion of its property to the Charleswood Red River Masons, who are sponsoring the 55-plus, life-lease project, which will see 65 units constructed in a three-storey building. The project is valued at about $20 million.

The project came to city hall two years ago but was withdrawn before it could get to council. The project appears to have divided the community, with almost as many local residents opposing it as those who are in favour. However, the planning department supported it two years ago, stating it was an appropriate infill development that met the needs of an aging neighbourhood. The planning report then had praised the project design, saying it more than met required setbacks and any variances were minor in nature.

Two years later, however, the civic planners said the project failed to meet the department’s conditions for approval. In its most recent report, the planning department made no mention of the aging community’s need for the project.

Two years ago, the planning department said the building height and size was appropriate for the location. Now, the planning department suggested the building be broken up into smaller components to reduce its visual impact on the neighbourhood.

The parking plan that planners singled out as innovative two years ago is now cited as one of the reasons the department is rejecting it.

Wall said the building height has been lowered to meet residents’ concerns, the project has added a few more parking stalls to the church side and the group agreed to pay for sewer improvements along adjoining streets.

Only Coun. Russ Wyatt supported the project at committee Tuesday, saying he didn’t understand how the planning department can have changed its opinion of the development when the proponents have improved the design.

“I’ve been on this committee for 11 years and I’ve never seen a report like this,” Wyatt said. “There has to be an explanation for why.”

Wyatt said he suspects the planning department was the victim of political pressure — either from ward Coun. Marty Morantz, who voted against the project a week ago, or from Mayor Brian Bowman, who lives in the area.

“Was there political interference here from senior people on council to change the report,” Wyatt told reporters. “The public service prides itself on making professional recommendations. To see something like this, you have to ask that question.”

Morantz and Bowman denied putting pressure on the planning department.

“That’s an irresponsible accusation,” Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Whyte Ridge) said, adding he followed the advice of the planning department when he voted against it at a different committee meeting a week ago.

Bowman could not be reached for comment but a spokesman said the mayor didn’t attempt to influence the planning department. The spokesman said Bowman will support the planning department’s recommendation to reject the project at EPC this morning.

Wall said the Charleswood United Church needs to sell the southern portion of the property, adding it’s a struggle for the church to pay the property taxes on the large property and it can’t afford to pave the gravel parking lot, which the city wants it to do.

“The Charleswood United Church and the Charleswood Masons have been friends for a very long time,” Wall said. “The Masons see an opportunity where they can alleviate the church’s tax problems by purchasing (the subdivided) property, giving the church positive cash flow, and alleviating the problem of having to (pave) the parking lot.

“The majority of the people who want to live (in the project) are from the immediate area, attend the church and are Charleswood Masons.”

Wall said if the project isn’t approved, the Masons will have to find another location that will likely add to the community’s sprawl problems.

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca