April 10, 2021

Winnipeg
13° C, A few clouds

Full Forecast

Contact Us Subscribe Manage Subscription Chat with us
Log in Create Free Account Help Chat with us
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • My Account
    • Manage my Subscription
    • Change Password

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
    • Log in
    • Create Free Account
    • Help

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
  • Coronavirus Coverage
  • Replica E-Edition
    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times
  • Above the Fold
  • Front page
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Book Club
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Canada
  • Local
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • World
  • The StarNEW
  • About Us
    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
  • Archives
  • Canstar Community News
    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Classifieds
  • Contests
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Flyers
  • Homes
    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Newsletters
  • Obituaries
  • Puzzles
  • Photostore
  • More

©2021 FP Newspaper Inc.

Close
  • Quick Links

    • Coronavirus Coverage
    • Above the Fold
    • Home
    • Local
    • Canada
    • World
    • Classifieds
    • Special Coverage
    • Flyers
    • Newsletters
    • Obituaries
    • Photostore
    • Archives
    • Contests
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Content
    • Privacy Policy

    Ways to support us

    • Pay it Forward program
    • Subscribe
    • Day Pass
    • Read Now Pay later
  • Replica E-Edition

    • About the E-Edition
    • Winnipeg Free Press
    • The Herald
    • The Headliner
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'Wester
    • The Times

    Business

    • All Business
    • Agriculture
    • Personal Finance
  • Arts & Life

    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Cannabis
    • Celebrities
    • Diversions
    • Puzzles
    • Environment
    • Events
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Your Health
    • Life & Style
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Science & Technology
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Sports

    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Auto Racing
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • Golf
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Horse Racing
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Olympics
    • Soccer
  • Opinion

    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor

    Media

    • All Media
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos

    Homes

    • Property Listings
    • Featured News
    • Renovation and design
    • New homes
    • Resale homes
  • Canstar Community News

    • All Canstar Community News
    • The Headliner
    • The Herald
    • The Lance
    • The Metro
    • The Sou'wester
    • The Times
    • Sports
    • Events
    • Contact Us
    • E-Editions
  • Coupons

    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print Coupons
    • Ripley's Aquariums Coupons
    • The Bay Coupons
    • Staples Canada Coupons
    • Altitude Sports Coupons
    • Nike Coupons
    • Tuango Coupons
    • Ebay Canada Coupons
    • Sport Chek Coupons
    • Roots Coupons
  • About Us

    • About Us
    • Advertising
    • Contact Us
    • Carrier Positions & Retailer Requests
    • FP Newspapers Inc.
    • History
    • Internships
    • Job Opportunities
    • News Café
    • Privacy Policy
    • Retail Locations
    • Staff Biographies
    • Terms and Conditions
Winnipeg Free Press
Articles Read
Your Balance +tax
Day Pass Till
Day Pass
    • Contact Us
    • Advertising Contact
    • Report an Error
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
    • Staff Biographies
    • Submit a News Tip
    • Subscribe to Newsletters

    • Finding your
      information

    • Log in
    • Create Account
    • Help
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate
    • My Account
    • Manage My Subscription
    • Change Password
    • Chat with us

    • Grid View
    • List View
    • Compact View
    • Text Size
    • Translate

    • Log Out
Log in Create Account Contact Us
Contact Us Manage Subscription
  • Sections
  • Local
  • Arts & Life
    • All Arts & Life
    • The Arts
    • Autos
    • Books
    • Diversions
    • Environment
    • Faith
    • Food & Drink
    • Health
    • Movies
    • Music
    • TV
    • Travel
  • Business
  • Sports
    • All Sports
    • Amateur
    • Blue Bombers
    • Curling
    • Football
    • Goldeyes
    • High School
    • Hockey
    • Winnipeg Jets
    • Manitoba Moose
    • WHL
    • MLB
    • NBA
    • Soccer
  • Opinion
    • All Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Columnists
    • Editorials
    • Editorial Cartoons
    • Letters to the Editor
    • Send a Letter to the Editor
  • E-Edition
  • Homes
  • Classifieds
    • All Classifieds
    • Announcements
    • Automotive
    • Careers
    • Garage Sales
    • Merchandise
    • Pets
    • Real Estate
    • Rentals
    • Services
  • Sponsored
    • Publications
    • Sponsored Articles
  • Coupons
    • All Coupons
    • Staples Copy & Print
    • Ripley's Aquariums
    • The Bay
    • Staples Canada
    • Altitude Sports
    • Nike
    • Tuango
    • Ebay Canada
    • Sport Chek
    • Roots
  • Obituaries
  • Subscribe
Business
WEATHER ALERT

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Sticking point

Kings Drive condo project hung up on fate of trees

Ben Waldman By: Ben Waldman
Posted: 3:00 AM CST Monday, Mar. 8, 2021

  • Tweet
  • Share
  • Print
  • Email
Trees separating the Kings Drive property from the main thoroughfare, some of which might need to be removed for the development to occur (below), have proved to be a sticking point for the condo project. (Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press)</p></p>

Trees separating the Kings Drive property from the main thoroughfare, some of which might need to be removed for the development to occur (below), have proved to be a sticking point for the condo project. (Mike Sudoma / Winnipeg Free Press)

A Fort Richmond property owner’s plans to redevelop his residential lot into a unique “bare land” condominium project hit an unexpected snag at city council’s appeals committee last week, with a small group of trees standing in the way.

A Fort Richmond property owner’s plans to redevelop his residential lot into a unique "bare land" condominium project hit an unexpected snag at city council’s appeals committee last week, with a small group of trees standing in the way.

For more than 50 years, the property at 80 Kings Dr., has been in David Whitmore’s family, he told the appeals committee. A few years ago, when his parents moved into assisted living, Whitmore and his wife bought the property — a sizable lot just west of the Red River featuring a single detached home — with the goal of turning it into a place to age in place for seniors looking to downsize.

"It’s our intention to stay in this community as long as we can," Whitmore said, adding that extensive door-to-door communication showed like-minded neighbours want to do the same. As of 2016, about one-third of Fort Richmond’s population was over the age of 50.

Trees separating the Kings Drive property from the main thoroughfare, some of which might need to be removed for the development to occur, have proved to be a sticking point for the project. (Supplied)</p>

Trees separating the Kings Drive property from the main thoroughfare, some of which might need to be removed for the development to occur, have proved to be a sticking point for the project. (Supplied)

Enlisting registered planners at local firm Richard+Wintrup, the property owners developed plans to expand the two-acre parcel’s residential capacity by turning it into a "bare land" condominium or "cottage court" project, with four smaller detached timber-frame condo units sharing amenities like a common driveway ("auto court") or green space, as well as maintenance costs. The units would be two-storey cottages small enough to fit on the parcel, one of the largest lots in the area. The owners also own a house farther down the road.

In R1L lots, such projects are allowed under city bylaws and plans to include up to four primary condo units, meaning no rezoning was required. The cottage court concept is not a new idea, but it’s gaining momentum in North America as a residential option with added community feel.

"We think this would make a great improvement to the area. This is a large lot, and it’s a way to create a very context-sensitive infill project," said Matthew Robinson, a registered planner with Richard+Wintrup.

To allow for the project to occur without exceeding the floodline, a variance to reduce front-yard size from 71 feet to 39 was sought by the owners and later approved by the city’s planning division, but several opponents appealed the decision: many assumed "condominium" meant a standard apartment-style building and that "auto court" meant parking lot, or they feared an influx of traffic, an opening of the floodgates to future developments, an incongruence with the neighbourhood’s scale, or the uproot of mature trees and root systems that a decreased front yard might cause.

The units would be two-storey cottages small enough to fit on the parcel of land. (Supplied)</p>

The units would be two-storey cottages small enough to fit on the parcel of land. (Supplied)

Coun. Brian Mayes (St. Vital) clarified that the project itself wasn’t up for appeal, the setback was.

The property straddles the floodway line, with thickets of trees between it and the Red River, preventing the project from going in that direction and requiring it to move forward toward Kings Drive. Whitmore and Richard+Wintrup’s Robinson both said those trees would be protected and preserved in the development.

But the trees separating the property from the main thoroughfare, some of which might need to be removed for the development to occur, proved to be a sticking point: When it approved the variance, the city’s administration didn’t request an arborist’s report, meaning information crucial to the project’s approval was not required to be collected or submitted.

Stay informed

The latest updates on the novel coronavirus and COVID-19.

Subscribe to COVID-19 Briefing
Sign Up

"I’m not sure how I can support this without knowing how many trees would be removed," said Coun. John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry). "I may be supporting ripping down 10 mature oak trees that are incredibly valuable to the City of Winnipeg. It may be two trees, and they’re spruces. Meh, then I may be OK. But I don’t know any of this."

The cottage court concept is not a new idea, but it’s gaining momentum in North America as a residential option with added community feel. (Supplied)</p>

The cottage court concept is not a new idea, but it’s gaining momentum in North America as a residential option with added community feel. (Supplied)

Orlikow motioned to lay the appeal over until an arborist’s report could be produced. The committee voted unanimously in favour of the motion, with an arborist’s report required by April 22.

"It’s a very good development plan and a wonderful concept," said Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan). The main concern was that it’s applied carefully, he said.

With the appeal delayed, Robinson reiterated that the concept would respect the neighbourhood’s context and provide high-quality dwellings geared toward aging in place, with beautiful landscaping and respect for the natural surroundings.

"While we have followed the City of Winnipeg’s requirements for our application process and engaged thoroughly with the public service in this matter, we respect the committee’s decision and will return with the requested documents at our next appeal committee hearing," he added.

ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca

Ben Waldman

Ben Waldman
Reporter

Ben Waldman covers a little bit of everything for the Free Press.

   Read full biography

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

  • Report Error
  • Submit a Tip
  • Refund

The Winnipeg Free Press invites you to share your opinion on this story in a letter to the editor. A selection of letters to the editor are published daily.

To submit a letter:
• fill out the form on this page, or
• email letters@freepress.mb.ca, or
• mail Letters to the Editor, 1355 Mountain Avenue, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R2X 3B6.

Letters must include the writer’s full name, address, and a daytime phone number. Letters are edited for length and clarity.

Advertisement

Advertise With Us

Top