Waverley West school site plans approved

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This article was published 08/02/2021 (1890 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Waverley West is one step closer to having a new elementary and junior-senior high school built on Bison Drive.

The conditional use and variance for the site was approved on Feb. 3 by the Assiniboia community committee.

Coun. Janice Lukes (Waverley West) said approval for the site of the two buildings is a reason for celebration in the community, which currently sees many students bussed to other schools in the Pembina Trails School Division.

“This is a huge step required in a process that brings the project so much closer to construction,” Lukes said. “It’s exciting and a long time coming.”

Jeff Pratte, a planner with Landmark Planning and Design, said the plan is to build the kindergarten to Grade 8 elementary school with occupancy for 800 students and 94 staff, while the Grade 9 to 12 high school will have room for 1,200 students and 135 staff.

The elementary will be a two-storey building with a floor area of 7,566 sq. m., while the high school will be three storeys, with a total size of 11,110 sq. m.

According to Lukes, the plans call for a “unique, first of its kind design in Winnipeg, which will see a bus loop for loading and unloading students at all schools, with drop-off areas and pick-up areas.” This will be located between the two schools.

The 21-acre site is currently undeveloped, and there are plans to build a future recreation centre to the west. The area’s active transportation network will tie into the school site, allowing pedestrians and cyclists easy access.

According to Pratte, once the city’s zoning department approves the plans, and they obtain the necessary permits for construction, a request for proposal can then be issued.

Lisa Boles, with the Pembina Trails School Division, said that once construction starts, the elementary school would take 12 to 14 months to build, with opening expected in September 2022.

“The high school is larger, so we’re expecting it to take 14 to 18 months to build, with opening in January 2023,” she said.

The plans include parking for 100 vehicles and 204 bikes at the elementary school, along with parking for 208 vehicles and 144 bikes at the high school.

Three variances approved included the rear yard of the senior school, the height of the senior school and a smaller accessory parking area on the north corner side yard.

Lukes noted that roads to the site will have to be established, possibly a gravel road at end of Cadboro connection, while the major roads to be constructed this year include a partial extension of Bison Road from Kenaston Boulevard to North Town Road, along with an extension of North Town Road to Lee Boulevard.