Mayor Scott Gillingham says the city has a solution to advance the controversial housing project slated for the Granite Curling Club parking lot, although the club alleges the city doesn’t have the power to put it in place.
“I believe there’s a win-win situation here to get the housing built that we need… and also to address the parking matter in a new lease,” said Gillingham.
In February, city council approved a 111-unit residential building for the city-owned land. Half of the suites would have affordable rent for 99 years.
JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES
The City of Winnipeg is going ahead with a plan to build affordable housing next to the Granite Curling Club.
But the Granite Curling Club appealed the decision to the Manitoba Municipal Board, arguing the location would eliminate 45 of its 80 parking stalls, rendering the operation no longer viable.
In November, the municipal board directed the city and club to develop an “adequate” parking plan “to the satisfaction of the Granite Curling Club” and city, which the mayor opposed, arguing that would give the club veto power over the project.
“This problem can be solved.”
Since provincial legislation prohibits city council from passing a zoning bylaw that doesn’t conform to the municipal board’s recommendations, many considered the directive binding.
However, in a new report released Wednesday, city staff conclude the parking plan condition is “not in respect of the proposed bylaw” and the provincial board has “no authority” to impose a condition on a development permit. That means city council is not legally bound to follow it, the report states.
The staff report recommends council instead approve its original motion to allow the project.
“We have the public service recommendation here, in consultation with the city’s legal team, that this is the way we should proceed and I’ll be supporting that,” said Gillingham.
The mayor noted he is also calling on city staff to negotiate a new long-term lease with the board of the curling club, which includes an expanded leased area and dedicated on-site parking options.
“I believe there’s parking space available in the area. This problem can be solved,” said Gillingham.
UWCRC 2.0
Renderings for the proposed Granite Riverside Commons, an 11-storey, 110-unit mixed-income building.
The city has long deemed the proposed housing at 22 Granite Way as key to creating much-needed affordable homes near transit and other services.
On Wednesday, a member of the Granite club’s board said he remains convinced the city would violate provincial legislation if it doesn’t follow the entire municipal board recommendation.
“Although the city was unhappy with the decision, it doesn’t give the city the right to ignore the provisions of the city charter and the municipal board’s recommendation,” said Christian Pierce, the board’s secretary. “(This) is in clear contravention of the city charter provisions.”
Pierce said the club doesn’t oppose the housing development itself but must have sufficient parking to ensure it can continue operations.
He said the board is considering “all options” to oppose the city’s decision, which could include a legal challenge.
“We’re just absolutely baffled that (the city is) taking the position that they don’t have to follow legislation,” said Pierce.
“We’re just absolutely baffled that (the city is) taking the position that they don’t have to follow legislation.”
When asked if the provincial government will take any action to ensure the city follows the board’s directions, Manitoba Municipal Relations Minister Glen Simard did not directly answer.
While he urged the city and curling club to “continue to work on compromises,” he also noted repeatedly that his government respects the authority of its municipal counterparts.
MIKE DEAL / FREE PRESS FILES
Christian Pierce, the board’s secretary, said the club doesn’t oppose the housing development but must have sufficient parking to ensure it can continue operations.
“We’ll continue to look forward to having legislation in place so these types of incidents don’t happen in the future… The city has decisions to make. We respect them as a local and mature order of government to make those decisions,” said Simard.
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The provincial government is reviewing legislation that controls the municipal board’s powers.
Winnipeg City Council’s executive policy committee will vote on the plan to move the project forward on Tuesday.
— With files from Carol Sanders
joyanne.pursaga@freepress.mb.ca
X: @joyanne_pursaga
Joyanne Pursaga
Reporter
Joyanne is city hall reporter for the Winnipeg Free Press. A reporter since 2004, she began covering politics exclusively in 2012, writing on city hall and the Manitoba Legislature for the Winnipeg Sun before joining the Free Press in early 2020. Read more about Joyanne.
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