Committee rejects rezoning application

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This article was published 12/01/2022 (1036 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

On Tuesday, the City Centre Community Committee rejected an application to rezone the contentious 514 Wellington Cres. property, but it is not the end of the story.

After more than three hours of presentations on the matter, councillors voted down the re-zoning application in a two-to-one vote.

Property owner Jeff Thompson, his architect and urban planner presented a detailed report on their proposed four-storey, eight-unit condo development on the site of a former character mansion.

As detailed and professional as their presentation was, about a half dozen neighbourhood residents were almost as thorough in their presentations to the committee in opposition to the re-zoning application.

It has been more than five years since Thompson acquired the property and started planning its redevelopment.

There has been vocal and passionate opposition to re-development dating back to before the original heritage mansion was demolished in 2020.

Thompson said he respects the passion and dedication of those in opposition but said that it has been a “rocky” few years in his efforts to redevelop the property.

According to councillor John Orlikow, who represents the neighbourhood on city council, among other things, the fact that the application was being made perhaps months before city council receives a heritage report on whether or not Crescentwood should be designated an Historical Conservation District (HCD), the application should be rejected.

Councillor Sherri Rollins, who had to remind some of the presenters about issues of decorum after one of them referred to the developer’s presentation as “puffery,” also voted to oppose.

Committee chairperson Cindy Gilroy voted to accept the re-zoning which was recommended by city administration, claiming that it is counter-productive to deny infill developments while waiting for other city business like the HCD applications, to be completed.

Neighbours and the councillors who voted down the re-zoning were concerned about the height, density of the development and the impact on traffic and parking in the area.

The matter will now go to the full city council.

It is expected that there will be a further appeal.

martin.cash@freepress.mb.ca