Approval for the development of a multi-family building on 6 First Street has been given third reading despite mixed feelings among Steinbach City Council.
6 First Street is next to Swift Underground and directly across Highway 52 from Loewen Windows.
Council approved to amend Steinbach's Official Community Plan (OCP) for the property to re-designate a portion of 78 PTH 52 West and 6 First Street from ‘Industrial Policy Area’ to ‘Central Business District Policy Area.’
Councillor Jac Siemens voted against the rezoning as he did in the previous two readings, but as everyone else voted in favor, the third reading was carried.
Siemens says he voted against as changing the lot to Central Business District means the developer doesn’t have to come to council to get permission to build a building within 2 feet of property line.
“I think that's too close to the highway. I think it's short-sighted because what if one day we want to expand that highway to three lanes each way? That allows for no future thinking, it kind of locks in that highway.”
Mayor Earl Funk says even though it’s very close to the highway, he believes it will be safe.
“The zoning does allow next to zero setback, but I think it'll be okay in this area as there is a sidewalk.”
Funk says it’s great that this lot will finally get used for something.
“With no commercial coming into it, there has been no plans for commercial at all, I think it's best to amend the OCP and make this work so that that we can actually have homes for employees close to where they could work.”
Along with the approval of the OCP amendment, a rezoning bylaw for the same property was also given third reading.
They approved the rezoning of a portion of 78 PTH 52 West and 6 First Street from Residential Low Density (RLD) to Residential Medium Density (RMD) to allow for the development of the three-story multi-family building.
The applicant plans to build a complex of anywhere between 22 to 24 units on the site, but the final design is not yet determined.
A subdivision bylaw for the same property was also given third reading to combine an existing lot and parcel of land to enlarge the lot so it will be sufficient in size to support the development.
@steinbach_online A three-storey, residential complex is set to be built across from Loewen Windows #steinbach #steinbachonline #fyp #foryourpage ♬ original sound - SteinbachOnline
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