Committee approves plans, funds

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This article was published 30/05/2022 (1466 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee met on May 25.

Coun. Shawn Nason (Transcona) and Coun. Jason Schreyer (Elmwood-East Kildonan) opened the meeting by welcoming back community festivals in their wards. The Transcona Hi Neighbour Festival returns to the Park City June 3 to 5, while Happy Days on Henderson, which was the recipient of a per capita grant for $2,500, takes place on the grounds of Mennonite Brethren Collegiate Institute, just off Talbot Avenue on June 11.

The committee approved a number of site plans, including a multifamily project at 228 Grassie Blvd., which had seen significant community opposition in the fall of 2021 when subdivision, rezoning and variances applications were first heard, and rejected, by the community committee. The committee also approved plans for Concordia Phase V at 1171 Concordia Ave., which includes assisted and independent living; and for a commercial redevelopment of the property at 1615 Regent Ave. West.

Neighbouring non-conforming approaches were approved for 113 and 117 St. Moritz Ave. The homeowners wanted the access off DeVries Avenue to their rear yards to accommodate occasional use, for loading a race car, an RV, and a pontoon boat.

“We’ve approved these in the past, for occasional use,” Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) noted. “We have set a precedent.”

Schreyer moved $40,000 in land dedication reserve for St. Gerard School’s new outdoor basketball court project, calling it a “very meaningful to the students and the neighbourhood in East Elmwood.”

A $500 per capita grant from the Transcona ward was approved for a Transcona float to appear in the upcoming Pride parade.

A public hearing was also held for a subdivision, rezoning, and variance at 463 and 465 Edison Ave. The proposal would see two multi-family (large) lots on the site, to accommodate two high density multi-family dwellings. City planners recommended the committee reject the proposal.

The north site, as well as surrounding sites, have already been redeveloped into multifamily housing. The southern lot, 463 Edison Ave., is currently zoned for commercial use, which allows for residential development of medium density. Two single-family homes currently stand across the back lane. The developer seeks to build 51 more units on the site, which is lower than a RMF-L zoning would allow.

Nobody registered in opposition.

The proposal was approved by the committee and forwarded to the standing policy committee on property and development, heritage, and downtown development, with some minor conditions.

“This is a stable, mature community. The fact nobody was here in opposition proves the point that (the developer) has done a good job with earlier stages of this development,” Browaty said in support.

Coun. Nason also made a request to move forward with a number of shared sidewalks and AT pathways to bridge a number of gaps in Transcona’s cycling infrastructure. He also requested a report on whether bike bells and lights can be required when using of various AT paths.