City’s rejection of Lemay assisted-living project upheld

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This article was published 16/04/2025 (184 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Manitoba Municipal Board has upheld the City of Winnipeg decision to reject a controversial development for the privately owned Lemay Forest, although it did say it would have supported a smaller project.

The board, which provides binding, final decisions on appeals of city land-use decisions, declined to overturn the City of Winnipeg’s rejection of a massive 5,000-bed, 2,500-unit assisted-living facility proposed for the urban forest in St. Norbert.

The board dismissed the developer’s appeal of the city ruling, leaving the rejection to stand.

“In the board’s opinion, the proposed development, at nearly three times the total population of St. Norbert, is not contextually suitable for the area,” the decision states.

For more than a year, a large group of residents has fought to stop the development and protect the forest. The opposition triggered legal battles and led some opponents to set up tents at city land next to the site. At times, access to the forest was blocked.

The board decision is moot since Premier Wab Kinew announced Monday his government will expropriate the private land to create a provincial park.

While the municipal board hearing took place in February, the ruling was released Wednesday, when people who had participated in the hearing began to receive hard copies in the mail.

The ruling notes the board would have allowed a much smaller development, of no more than 800 units, but stated that option didn’t fall within its power.

“Unfortunately… there is no authority in the charter for the board to order the amendment of the development application to reflect the reduced density to 800 units,” the ruling states.

Apparently written before the premier’s announcement, it suggests the developer resubmit an application for a smaller development.

“At a reduced scale, (this) would be a valuable addition to the St. Norbert area to increase housing options,” it states.

During the hearing, the city argued the development was far too large for the site, which was noted as a key reason to reject it.

Tochal Development Group, the proponent, argued assisted-living units would offer much-needed housing to let Winnipeggers “age in place.”

Development opponents fought to protect the forest as an important animal habitat and popular green space, while some raised concerns over potential unmarked graves from a former Catholic orphanage at the site. They argued the development could disrupt graves, despite the developer’s promise to protect that portion of the property with a buffer zone.

Coun. Markus Chambers (St. Norbert-Seine River) said he’s relieved by the decision to quash the appeal and welcomes the provincial park designation.

“I’m glad that the will of the local area residents prevailed… We need housing but we still have to do it responsibly,” said Chambers. “Given the uniqueness of this parcel of land and the history behind it, (developing it) is not the responsible thing to do.”

The councillor thanked Kinew for ensuring the area “will be preserved in perpetuity.”

Evan Duncan, council’s property and development chairman, said there was growing support on city council to maintain some form of parkland at the site.

Amid a major push to create more housing, however, Duncan (Charleswood-Tuxedo-Westwood) said the city and province should clarify their development priorities.

“We need to straighten out… what is exactly the priority here? Is it to build units at any cost? Or is it to look at more of a holistic approach to what benefits society?” he said.

John Wintrup, a key planner for the assisted-living project, said he had very little information on the decision when reached by the Free Press Wednesday morning. At that point, Wintrup said he had only seen the final page of the ruling posted on social media and hadn’t yet received his own copy.

“Why do I have to find out from the media and social media what the premier and his government are doing? Why can’t they communicate with a private landowner… We’re blindsided again,” he said.

The municipal board used the postal service to distribute copies of the ruling, one of which the Free Press obtained late Wednesday afternoon.

Wintrup could not immediately be reached for comment after that point.

The ruling said orders related to cemetery protection, conserving trees and protecting access to cultural practices fall outside the board’s jurisdiction, noting it is tasked with determining whether a proposed development conforms to municipal rules.

Louise May, a member of the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest, said she was relieved to see two decisions that ultimately meet the residents’ goals.

“This decision complements and supports the expropriation. They definitely couldn’t move forward on that proposal,” said May.

She called the board’s decision “better late than never,” stressing she would have preferred to see trees protected sooner.

joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca

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