Key Takeaways
- The City of Winnipeg can ignore a provincial board’s decision to grant the Granite Curling Club a veto over plans to build residential housing on a parking lot next door.
- The city can rezone the parking lot to make way for an 111-unit apartment complex without the curling club’s approval.
- The provincial board’s decision was deemed an overreach by Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham.
- The city has no authority to allow the curling club de facto approval authority over issuing a development permit as part of a zoning change.
Introduction to the Dispute
The City of Winnipeg is free to ignore a provincial board’s decision to grant the Granite Curling Club an effective veto over plans to build residential housing on a parking lot next door, according to city planning officials. A new report to the city council’s executive policy committee states that the city can legally go ahead and rezone the parking lot west of the curling club on Granite Way to make way for an 111-unit apartment complex. This decision comes after the provincial board recommended that the city ensure the Granite Curling Club approves of the land-use changes before issuing a permit for the apartment complex.
The Provincial Board’s Decision
The provincial board’s decision was made in November, and it ruled that the city can only issue a permit for the apartment complex after the city comes up with an "adequate" parking plan that supports the "operational sustainability of the club." The board recommended that the executive policy committee amend land-use changes slated to come before city council as a whole to make this happen. However, city planning officials argue that the city does not have to heed the board’s recommendation because it involves a development permit and not the actual land-use change the city plans to make.
The City’s Position
According to City of Winnipeg planning manager James Veitch, the city has no authority to allow the curling club de facto approval authority over issuing a development permit as part of a zoning change. Veitch wrote that this is against the city’s rules, and that the Granite Curling Club is a tenant on city land and is looking for a new lease arrangement. The city’s position is that the provincial board’s decision was an overreach, and that the city can proceed with the rezoning of the parking lot without the curling club’s approval.
The Curling Club’s Concerns
The Granite Curling Club has expressed concerns that the new apartment complex threatens its long-term survival because it would take up 45 out of 80 parking spaces used by its members and rented out during the day to employees at nearby businesses. The club’s board has requested a series of financial subsidies and cost reimbursements amounting to well over $800,000 annually as part of a new lease. However, city officials argue that the club’s concerns are not a valid reason to grant it veto power over the development of the parking lot.
The Mayor’s Response
Winnipeg Mayor Scott Gillingham has called the provincial board’s decision a "dangerous precedent" and described it as an overreach by the board. The mayor has stated that the city will continue to work with the curling club on a parking plan, albeit without the de facto veto. The city’s position is that the provincial board’s decision was not within its authority, and that the city can proceed with the development of the parking lot without the curling club’s approval.
The Future of the Provincial Board
A report on the legislation governing the provincial board, made public by the province in October, calls for ratcheting back the board’s powers so that it can only say yes or no to proposals without adding amendments. This report suggests that the provincial board’s decision in this case may have been an overreach, and that the board’s powers need to be reined in to prevent similar decisions in the future.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the City of Winnipeg can ignore the provincial board’s decision to grant the Granite Curling Club a veto over plans to build residential housing on a parking lot next door. The city can rezone the parking lot to make way for an 111-unit apartment complex without the curling club’s approval, and the provincial board’s decision was deemed an overreach by the city. The future of the provincial board’s powers is uncertain, but it is clear that the city will proceed with the development of the parking lot without the curling club’s approval.