Wellington Crescent development approved

Osborne Village

River Heights

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This article was published 11/09/2024 (572 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The City Centre community committee met on Sept. 5 for the first since city council broke for summer. Plans for multiple new developments were discussed at length.

The subdivision and rezoning of a multi-family apartment complex at 666-674 McMillan Ave. was approved, moving along plans to add 45 new living units, in the form of one-, two-, and-three-bedroom living spaces to the area.

If completed, 10 per cent of the building would be considered affordable housing. A Peg City Car Co-op stall and vehicle would also be available for tenants living on-site, according to plans presented by Landmark Planning.

A similar project was approved by the committee in January 2022. The proposed new complex will be in a heavy-traffic area of the city, surrounded on all sides by Corydon Avenue, Osborne Street, Wellington Crescent and Stafford Street, and close to stops for multiple popular Winnipeg Transit routes.

The plan also works in rhythm with Winnipeg2045, the city’s long-term plan to increase pedestrian traffic, active transportation and public transportation use. This apartment project will increase the population of the Roslyn neighbourhood and offer different housing options.

The building’s design will blend into the pre-existing neighbourhood, according to the applicants, and match the look of the architecture in the Corydon area.

A hearing was also held on the subdivision and rezoning of 611 to 633 Wellington Cres. — site of the former Rehabilitation Centre for Children — to make way for the development of 14 new family homes. All the one- and two-storey homes will face Wellington Crescent, and 96 shrubs and 17 trees will be planted on the site. The backs of eight of the houses will face the Assiniboine River but the fronts will be hidden behind a five-foot wrought-iron fence.

The applicant, John Wintrup, had originally called for a six-foot fence, but eventually had to reach a compromise on the height — which still necessitated a variance request, as the recommended height is four feet.

Only one person, architect and Free Press columnist Brent Bellamy, spoke in opposition, claiming the fences will hide the developments away from the rest of the public.

“The developer will likely tell you they want the fences and gates for safety and security… but hiding our new developments behind fortifications, even wrought iron ones, punishes existing residents by making their neighbourhoods feel less safe… imagine if every yard in River Heights, or any other mature neighbourhood in Winnipeg, had a five-foot fence surrounding the sidewalk. How would that feel?”

Bellamy remarked that it would also make it seem as though the city has “blanket bylaws,” noting that the recommended height encourages an open and welcoming street environment, and there are no unique circumstances for the additional protection.

“Developers not wanting to follow bylaws is not sufficient reason to approve variances,” he said.

The applicant defended the decision, citing the high volume of foot traffic on Wellington Crescent’s sidewalk and the need to “clearly establish that this is private property.” The “wrought iron fences” also match the existing architecture in that neighbourhood.

Although councillors had opposing views on the fence, the plan was approved after much discussion.