New housing approved across northeast

Transcona

East Kildonan

North Kildonan

The East Kildonan-Transcona community committee held a regular meeting April 9.

All three councillors — Jeff Browaty (North Kildonan), Emma Durand-Wood (Elmwood-East Kildonan), and Russ Wyatt (Transcona) — were present at the meeting. Wyatt currently faces criminal charges of sexual assault and administering a drug with intent to aggrieve or annoy, which have yet to be proved in court. He maintains he is innocent.

During the regular meeting, a number of development plans were discussed.

Plans for a mixed-use residential and commercial development on Ravenhurst Street, which will include 11 townhouse-style buildings, including 47 two-storey townhouses with garages and nine single-storey townhouses without garages, and one 10,000 square foot commercial building, were approved by the committee, with two small changes. A steel bike loop will be installed at each unit lacking a garage, and 24 additional coniferous trees will be planted among the north and east boundary landscaping.

Plans for a large multi-family development at the corner of Scotia Street and Ridgecrest Avenue, were approved, the project will include two residential buildings — an 83-unit and a 77-unit building, each six storeys high.

“What a quality looking development,” Browaty said in support.

Plans for the final townhouse development in the new Devonshire neighbourhood, located at 415 Peguis St., were also approved by the committee. Plans include one four-unit and seven five-unit townhouses, for a total of 39 dwelling units.

“The colours are excellent,” Wyatt said in support. “The units are affordable compared to a lot of other single-family homes.”

Additionally, community fund grants were approved for the Park City West Community Centre for $5,631 to replace aging machinery, and the Elmwood Curling Club for $9,500 to assist with cost of a fence and security system.

A public hearing was held for a rezoning and variance application for 712 Consul Ave. in East Kildonan, from residential multi-family small density to medium, to allow for an 11-unit multi-family dwelling to be built on the site. The building is currently an eight-unit building, but the developer seeks to add three units — two two-bedrooms and a one-bedroom — in the basement.

Variances to allow for fewer parking stalls than required and installation of enclosed bicycle parking were approved. Currently, eight stalls exist. Peg City Car Co-op, which doesn’t yet service much of the northeast beyond Elmwood, will be willing to provide two cars on the site, which would reduce the parking requirement, and provide car-share options for residents of the development as well as the larger community.

One neighbour registered in opposition, citing concerns regarding parking and safety.

Both applications were approved by the committee.

“This is a great way to get more density into our neighbourhood with very little visual change to the neighbourhood,” Durand-Wood said in support. “The applicant has engaged the neighbourhood and proposed some thoughtful changes. Happy to see affordable housing. The car co-op will be a big asset to both the residents themselves and the neighbouring area.”