More housing approved in St. Boniface

St. Boniface

St. Norbert-Seine River

St. Vital

The Riel community committee met on Oct. 29 to hearing zoning applications, secondary plan amendments and to deal with several neighbourhood matters.

A public hearing was held regarding a combined subdivision, rezoning, and variance application for 391, 397, and 401 Provencher Blvd., which will consolidate and rezone the properties from commercial to mixed-use commercial and residential, thus paying the way for a proposed mixed-use development on the site. The committee approved the application.

The proposed six-storey building will include three commercial units on the ground floor and 45 dwelling units, including one-, two-, and three-bedroom units, on the floors above. It calls for 28 surface parking stalls, one car-share space, and 15 secure indoor and 15 outdoor bicycle parking stalls. Nobody spoke in opposition to the project.

“It’s a beautiful building that fits the surrounding environment,” Coun. Matt Allard (St. Boniface) said in support of the rezoning application. “I think it will be net positive addition to the area.”

Final plans must be approved by the committee before construction can begin.

In addition, a secondary plan amendment was approved for market lands south of Marion Street and bounded by CN Rail and Speers Road on the east, the CP/CN Railway to the south, and the CP Railway to the west following a public hearing. The plan for the land is to build new residential, commercial, and public amenities on the site, essentially creating a new neighbourhood, with over 2,000 residential units, known as the Watertower District, south of the St. Boniface Industrial Park and northeast of Windsor Park.

The amendments include reduced setbacks required for properties across from manufacturing and rail yards from 300 metres to 150 metres, as well as increased density for residential areas. Additionally, a requirement for an unobstructed emergency access was added, given the density of the proposed development.

Two representatives for Maple Leaf Foods spoke in opposition to the amendments, particularly the greater density and expansion of the residential lands and the potential for land-use conflicts once residents move in to the new area.

“If this is approved, it will allow for the eventual construction of much needed housing,” Allard said in support. “A lot of work has gone into this.”

During the regular meeting, the committee voted to approve a $120,000 community incentive grant to the Island Lakes Residents’ Group. to replace basketball netting and fix the tennis courts in Lindsey Wilson Park, contrary to the public service recommendation.

“This is city land,” Allard noted, adding the residents’ group was providing significant funding for the project, but just less than the 50 per cent threshold that the public service typically wants to see before approving such funding.

An honorary street naming, acknowledging Bob and Judy Roehle’s contributions to St. Norbert, was also approved.