Major developments in southeast still up for discussion

Transcona

Southland Park

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This article was published 03/07/2024 (623 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee held a lengthy regular meeting on June 24.

A number of public hearings were held before the committee broke for the summer.

A combined subdivision, rezoning, variance and conditional use application for 701 Pandora Ave. W, to build an eight-unit multifamily building, was approved, subject to final plan approval by the committee. The variance would allow for a front yard of 17 feet rather than 22 feet, and for eight parking stalls instead of 12, though Coun. Russ Wyatt (Transcona) requested make a number of improvements on the initial proposed design. One person was registered in opposition, a neighbour, who was unable to stay at the meeting but supplied a number of concerns, which the committee attempted to address.

“Pandora Avenue is a regional street and a truck route,” Wyatt said in support. “It is similar to other (infill) projects that have been built on Regent Avenue to the north, as well as Pandora Avenue. It does provide for eight units in a way that makes sense, while renewing and re-investing in an established neighbourhood.”

Three large new subdivisions were up for lengthy discussion on the far eastern side of the city, from South Transcona through Southland Park, which would add thousands of homes to the area. However, all three applications were laid over pending changes to proposed designs.

A subdivision, rezoning, and variance application for a new development in the area southwest of Dugald Road along Plessis Road, east of Watersides Estates, to allow for development of single-family, two-family, and multifamily housing along that 30-acre stretch of land. The public administration recommended approval in part, though recommended against one variance regarding height of buildings. Wyatt requested that the developers build more sidewalks than initially proposed, given the density.

“Otherwise you’ll have people walking on the road,” he said.

A number of neighbours spoke in opposition to the project, citing concerns regarding increased density, privacy, loss of greenspace and depreciation of property value, among others. The matter was laid over until September.

A subdivision, rezoning, and variance application for a 165-acre development southwest of Dawson Road South and Plessis Road was heard, with the intention of eventually containing between 1,125 and 1,550 units, among a mix of housing options. The public service recommended approval of the application and variances. Nobody registered in opposition, while two people registered for information. The matter was laid over until September, with Wyatt requesting more information regarding timing of phasing of construction, active transportation pathways, traffic tables, location of playstructures and other amenities.

A second hearing was held for a subdivision, rezoning, and variance application for 15 Royal Mint Dr., to allow for a 222-unit multifamily development on the site. The committee heard the developer’s proposal in May, but more information on traffic and water and waste volume was requested by Wyatt. Answers to those questions were provided, but other questions regarding costs of roadways, including a roundabout at the intersection of Dawson Road South and Royal Mint, among other concerns, were not addressed to the satisfaction of the committee, so the hearing was laid over until a special meeting on July 19.

During the regular meeting, the committee approved plans, in part, for a series of side-by-sides between 1285 and 1365 Devonshire Dr. W, though Wyatt was reluctant to approve some of the buildings, owing to the colour pallet presented. The remaining buildings would need to come back to committee for approval.

“Bring back yellows. Bring back some pinks. Bring back some blues. Bring back some colour!” Wyatt said. “We sit in this city six months of the year in darkness and snow. Let’s brighten it up!”

A land dedication reserve grant for $20,000 to the River Elm School playground project was approved from the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward, as was a $48,000 LRD grant for an asphalt pathway for the Helen Marsh Park in Transcona. A per capita grant for the Glenelm Neighbourhood Association for $1,000 for administrative supplies was approved, from the Elmwood-East Kildonan ward.

Extensions of time were granted for a number of developments, including 301, 305, and 309 Harold Ave. East (December 2025); the southeast corner of Molson Street and Concordia Avenue (June 22, 2025), and 70 Lexington Park (June 24, 2025).

A motion to increase the speed limit on Plessis Road from Dougald to Kildare Avenue, from 50 km/h to 60 km/h, was approved, as well as the inclusion of a number of left-turn signals at a number of key intersections along Plessis, as well.