Variance, plans approved for new mixed-use building in Elmwood

Elmwood

East Kildonan

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee held its regular meeting on April 24.

A public hearing for a variance at 545 Watt St., in order to build a mixed-use building was also held. Variances requested included reduced side, front, and back yards, a building height of 87 feet rather than 70, 71 parking spaces instead of 90, and smaller square-footage per unit. The application was approved and nobody was registered in opposition to the project.

Plans for the development at 545 Watt St., which is being built by the Elmwood Community Resource Centre Inc., were also approved, following approval of the variances. The plan presented calls for a gym, classroom, and multi-purpose room to support after-school programming and community events, plus a commercial kitchen for food preparation, on the main floor, as well as 115 mixed-income dwelling units, including 46 affordable dwelling units, and 18 barrier-free units.

“This is a great project,” said Coun. Emma Durand-Wood (Elmwood-East Kildonan), in support. “ECRC has done a real good job in consulting and understanding the parking needs on site… It would be a shame to let parking for cars take precedence over housing for people.”

A public hearing was held for a rezoning and variance at 900 McLeod Ave., from residential to commercial/community zoning, to allow for the expansion of Guru Nanak Darbar, an existing place of worship. The committee approved the application, with an amendment so that the land dedication fees, and application fees minus the cost of advertising, be waived, as the applicant had previously made the application in 2021 but it had lapsed, owing to not seeking an extension of time from the committee.

“They’ve done a lot of work and provide a lot of work to the community,” Coun. Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan) said in support.

During the regular meeting, plans for a new park in Waterside Estates East in South Transcona, which includes a half basketball court, pickleball court, picnic shelter, and more, while retaining a section of native aspen forest and a native grass reclamation project, were approved. The committee recommended expanding sod area around the activity area, as well as adding more trees.

Plans for a 179-unit multi-family development on DeVries Avenue were also approved.

A grant from Elmwood-East Kildonan’s land dedication reserve for $150,000 for the East Side Eagles Football Club to help build new public washrooms was approved. The club itself is providing $300,000 to the project, while the Province of Manitoba is contributing $1 million.

A number of projects received extensions of time to complete required work, including a building at the southeast corner of Molson Street and Concordia Avenue, to June 22, 2027; a new development at 70 Lexington Park, to June 24, 2027; new housing at 302, 313, and 500 Desrosiers Ave. until May 2, 2027; and the subdivision and rezoning of lots 2 and 3 at Peguis Street and Reenders Drive, until April 26, 2027.