Pair of council approvals pave way for senior’s care facility

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 14/08/2017 (2440 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The withdrawal of a registered objection to a rezoning application has allowed city council to approve a pair of resolutions that effectively pave the way for a proposed nine-storey senior’s care facility planned for the corner of Loewen Boulevard and Albert Street.

At city hall on Tuesday, council was informed the Manitoba Municipal Board would no longer need to assess the rezoning application, as the lone formal objection had been withdrawn. Ahead of a public hearing last month, Albert Street residents James and Christina Friesen had written to object to the rezoning, citing reduced privacy and increased traffic volumes.

Two unanimous votes followed the news. The first supported third reading of the rezoning request—from commercial to residential mixed use (RMX)—while the second approved an attendant height variation to allow the proposed structure to reach up to 120 feet.

According to Councillor Earl Funk, the Steinbach Credit Union building stands at a height of about 110 feet. Updated site plans released last month by applicant Robert Wrublowsky of MMP Architects indicated a revised maximum height of 107 feet.

“If we ask for less then we’re jeopardizing the prospects of the success of this project,” said Councillor Cari Penner. She called the rezoning “particularly important,” as it signalled the first implementation of the RMX zoning category.

“We do want to encourage more mixed use, where people can live or work in the same or similar places,” agreed Mayor Chris Goertzen.

The RMX zoning allows a property to contain a “small scale” commercial, institutional, or recreational component while remaining predominantly residential. The current proposal includes plans for a restaurant, daycare centre, and medical supply retail outlets alongside residential suites offering varying levels of care.

Responding to concerns voiced by Albert Street homeowners at the rezoning’s July 18 public hearing, Councillor Susan Penner said nearby property values are unlikely to fall given that family members of care home residents often seek out nearby properties.

The need for a sidewalk along Albert Street remains, said Councillor Jac Siemens, who asked council to consider the matter at its next study session. Councillor Cari Penner concurred, calling a sidewalk a “safety measure” for local residents who routinely walk through an increasingly busy area of the city.