Ambitious mixed-use project gets go-ahead from committee

Garden City

The Lord Selkirk-West Kildonan community committee met on Jan. 23 and perhaps the largest item on the agenda was the subdivision and rezoning of Northgate Shopping Centre at 1399 McPhillips St.

The McGowan Russell Group represented the developer, which plans to build mixed-use buildings on three lots surrounding the shopping centre, that would be both commercial and residential. The current plans show one building at six storeys, another at seven, and a third at nine storeys.

The committee sent the matter along to the standing policy committee on property and development, recommending approval of multiple rezonings and variances that would allow for the buildings, parking areas, fencing, and several other items, pending plan approvals for each.

The McGowan Russell Group also sought variances in the construction of 11 townhouse buildings intended to contain 298 dwellings and 394 parking spaces.

A representative of some residents of the Aspen Meadows condominiums, located just south of the proposed developments, spoke against the project and expressed concern about the west lot line being reduced from 20 feet to 9.5 feet, which she said would create visibility issues for drivers exiting her building’s parking lot. She also spoke against the proposed plan for its lack of greenspace or play areas for children.

The community committee recommended approval of several other plan approvals, rezonings, and variances, including a plan for a commercial development at the northwest corner of Inkster Boulevard and King Edward Street. That project, headed by J. Wintrup Consulting, would include five commercial buildings for retail and office space.

John Wintrup spoke at the committee and added that the company would also build a sidewalk on the north side of Inkster Boulevard “so that anybody can walk along this sidewalk, be able to walk into this development, and walk along a safe route to most of the storefronts… Cyclists, as well, will also be able to use these walkways.”