Province starts process to set up land-use board

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This article was published 19/07/2022 (256 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The provincial government has launched consultation on the establishment of a board to oversee land-use planning for 18 municipalities in the capital region.

The Planning Amendment and City of Winnipeg Charter Amendment Act, which passed last year, established the Winnipeg metropolitan area. Its mandate to work together to prepare a development plan.

The provincial government is inviting feedback on the proposed board structure, governance and voting structure; as well as the requirements for the adoption, review, and amendment of the regional plan.

The Progressive Conservative government said Monday once a board is established with an elected member from Winnipeg and each of its 17 surrounding municipalities, it must identify and promote opportunities for the capital region to co-operate in the cost-effective development of infrastructure and the provision of services on a regional basis.

Similar co-ordinated approaches have been adopted in other major Canadian cities because they support broader public benefits such as housing affordability, enhanced transportation systems, sustainable infrastructure investments and stronger economic outcomes, the news release said.

A background document said decisions would require a vote on a motion by the board of directors in which all directors have a single vote that is equally weighted.

For a motion to pass, the majority of board directors must vote in favour, and those voting in favour must represent at least 50 per cent of the population of the capital region.

Once the board is established, it will have two years to prepare and adopt a regional plan bylaw. The regulation sets out expectations and requirements for public hearings as part of the process for the bylaw to proceed through first, second and third readings.

After the third reading, member municipalities and planning districts will have up to three years to ensure local bylaws are consistent with the regional plan. Amendments to an adopted regional plan may be initiated by the minister, board, regional member municipality or planning district in the region following the process outlined in the regulation.

The board must prepare a budget by Feb. 28 of each fiscal year. If the board is unable to reach an agreement on its annual budget, the regulation specifies a process to determine contributions required from each member municipality to fund board operations.

The consultation period ends Sept. 15. For details see https://reg.gov.mb.ca/detail/7444876

— Staff