Airport study ready for takeoff

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This article was published 11/08/2020 (1913 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Tuesday, the province released a request for proposals to study and forecast noise exposure around the airport and make planning recommendations, a move that has been applauded by all sides in what has become an increasingly contested matter.

This year, two potentially sizable development proposals along St. James Street new Polo Park have been met with split decisions from city council committees and which were eventually appealed to the provincial Municipal Board.

An Airport Vicinity Protection Plan has been in place for 25 years that all parties agree is in dire need of an update.

Ostensibly that plan — which was seen as somewhat visionary at the time — was established to ensure the Winnipeg airport would be able to continue as a 24-hour operation that has assisted it in growing its overnight cargo traffic.

The Richardson Winnipeg International Airport is Canada’s seventh busiest airport by passenger count but the country’s top dedicated freighter airport by number of flights and third highest in daily air cargo tonnage.

The RFP is looking for a qualified interdisciplinary consulting team with experience doing noise exposure forecast studies and undertaking land use planning analysis of airport-related development restrictions.

It is looking for clear recommendations with a fairly tight, non-negotiable, timeline of 14 weeks.

With developers being stymied from being able to go ahead with developments as a result of what some believe to be outdated restrictions that lack scientific verification, the goal is to allow the airport to continue to grow and for developers — and city council — to have clarity as to what they can and cannot do.

“The Winnipeg airport is a real gem and a significant economic driver and we want to protect that,” said Philip Houde, the CEO of the Economic Growth Committee of Cabinet. “We also don’t want to limit the kind of development that can occur. We are trying to balance both. It can be done.”

The noise exposure forecast is the official measurement used in Canada for aircraft noise assessment. Transport Canada considers residential development incompatible with airport operations in areas that exceed specific noise thresholds.

The former plan has arguably served the city and the airport over the years preventing development that might otherwise lead to complaints or legal disputes with property owners about jet engine noise.

But city Coun. Janice Lukes, who had voted to allow some recent developments, said, “People realize airplane technology has changed and building and window technology has changed. For sure we don’t want to jeopardize the airport’s ability to have its 24-7 operations. I don’t think anyone wants to do that. This is a good resolution for everyone. It is very positive.”

Tyler MacAfee, vice-president, communications and government relations with the Winnipeg Airports Authority, said he was aware the RFP was coming.

“This is great,” he said. “We knew it was necessary. The plan has not been updated in any substantial way for 25 years and some of the assumptions have evolved.”

Among other things, the airport has become a much busier cargo hub than was anticipated 25 years ago.

Also, real estate development has taken off in that quadrant of the city and developers are looking forward to having planning clarity.

Martin McGarry, the CEO of Cushman & Wakefield/Stevenson, which manages and develops a lot of industrial properties in the airport region, including CentrePort, said, “First of all, having the WAA, the province and the city on the same page is fantastic news.”

St. James Coun. Scott Gillingham said it is something he has been on the record advocating for many years and Frances Smee, the reeve of the RM of Rosser, which butts up against the airport and where much of CentrePort is located, said for her municipality to be successful she needs the airport to be successful.

“A study is needed and we support the province going ahead with it,” she said. “It will help to direct development.”

Even Justin Zarnowski, vice-president of legal affairs with Shindico Inc., which has been trying to develop high density, multi-use residential projects at the old Winnipeg Stadium grounds and at Polo Park in partnership with Cadillac Fairview, is supportive.

“We’re glad to see the province is stepping up,” he said. “It is really important for the city.”

But Zarnowski said there is no particular drama for him as to what the results of the study will be.

“I think this is just a recognition by the province that further study of the whole area is needed,” he said. “If our site is not impacted, likely there are others as well.”

Shindico and Cadillac Fairview commissioned their own noise exposure study for their property and found there were no concerns at all.

It is expected that the Municipal Board will hear the WAA’s appeal on the Shindico development after the report has been completed.

“I suppose two reports are better than one,” Zarnowski said.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca