Steinbach City Council has given first reading to a bylaw that would see eight properties rezoned along the east side of Maplewood Street south of Stonebridge Crossing. 

The developer is proposing those properties be rezoned from Residential Low Density to Residential Medium Density allowing for the eight houses to be torn down and replaced with 6 12-unit 3-storey buildings. 

Eight properties along Maplewood Street will be rezoned if the bylaw is passed

Councillor Jac Siemens made the motion to give first reading. He notes a similar proposal was presented to council back in 2018 and it was not well received. 

"The Maplewood rezoning, this is the second time this is before council. The first time it was denied, there was a lot of pressure from the citizens that lived in that area. I think that plan was a bit off of what council was expecting as well. We will see how the public hearing goes, but this plan is a better plan than the first one was so I am expecting this to be more positive at the public hearing." 

The original plan was for the same eight houses to be torn down, except they would then be replaced by a 44-unit townhouse complex that did not appeal to town council or local residents. 

Read more: Large Townhouse Complex Planned Along Maplewood Street

Mayor Earl Funk says this is a different developer that is coming forward with this new proposal.  

"I think it is worth looking at and we really want to see what the neighbourhood has to say about this because it does build density and yeah there are lots of challenges with that but I think it is good to see. This is an area that could use some redevelopment and that is why council is excited to see what this developer has."

Now that council has given first reading to this rezoning bylaw, they can proceed with a public hearing to get feedback from local residents.