Councillors approve community grants, delay development projects to fall

North End

The Lord Selkirk–West Kildonan community committee held a regular meeting on June 23.

The committee approved two community incentive grants, one to the North End Women’s Centre and the other to Marymound, despite the public service recommendation to deny the grants on the basis that both applications did not meet eligibility criteria for the grant.

The North End Women’s Centre applied for $115,000 for a drop-in centre expansion elevator expansion.

“The centre is doing really good things and trying to get us out of a lot of situations women end up,” said Coun. Ross Eadie (Mynarski).

The centre has already secured $20,000 through the province and is asking for 85.2 per cent to be covered by the city. According to eligibility criteria, the city’s contribution to a project should be 50 per cent or less.

The committee voted to recommend the criteria be waived, and the proposal be approved by the standing policy committee on community services before going to council. According to by-laws, any grants offered through this fund over $100,000 must be approved by council.

“Therefore, we need a council decision to support a women’s organization that’s doing really good things for the north end,” Eadie explained.

“I’m very happy to support your motion,” said Coun. Vivian Santos (Point Douglas). “I know the great work the North End Women’s Centre does in both our communities,” she said.

Similarly, Marymound — a youth social service organization — requested $240,000 or 52 per cent to be covered for a roof replacement. Public service recommended council deny the request, to which the committee dismissed, and approved.

The community incentive grant program is a $1 million fund offered through the City of Winnipeg’s capital budget and made available to non-profit community organizations needing construction, upgrades, or any improvements to facilities.

Three development plans were also presented before the area’s councillors.

The first, a new commercial plaza called Polaris Place at 2777 McPhillips St., the plaza will eventually be home to five businesses. Currently two buildings have been finished, and another is currently under construction.

One of the applicants — Whiteland Real Estate, a local developer company wanting to develop a new office for their expanding business — appeared before council to submit proposed changes to the original design of the future plaza.

The second, for a park within a new housing development, and last, an application for a new fence around St. John Cantius Roman Catholic Church.

All plans were laid over for 30 days by Coun. Devi Sharma (Old Kildonan), except the fence at 846 Burrows Ave., which was approved in concurrence with public service recommendation.

Finally, three public hearings were on the agenda, however two of the three hearings, in regard to a rezoning and a variance at 780 McPhillips St., which both drew over 15 community members in opposition, were adjourned by Sharma and will continue at the next meeting.

The rezoning would change the site from residential single-family homes to mature communities’ commercial neighbourhood. This would allow the applicant to convert a current single-family home into a commercial building.

The variance connects to the proposed commercial zoning and asks for a smaller side and rear yard on the site than what the zoning requires.

The applicant is also requesting two parking spaces instead of four.

The Lord Selkirk–West Kildonan community committee does not meet in July or August for summer break. The committee, and adjourned hearings, will resume on Sept. 3.