Proposed location of trucker motel at 80 Clear Springs Road

The proposal for a trucker motel came back before Steinbach city council Tuesday night. Harvey Penner was seeking a Conditional Use Permit for such a facility at 80 Clear Springs Road, east of Highway #12. Such a permit is required since the area is zoned for industrial use which does not usually permit residential development. When the matter came before council last month, Penner indicated the units would be available for monthly leases as well. Council then asked the administration for further study.

Councillor Cari Penner last night moved approval of the plan. "I felt there was no detrimental effect to having this trucker motel in that area," said Penner. She adds, "It's a light industrial area. The trucker motel would serve a purpose for truckers who need a place to rest and refresh themselves and a place to park their truck at the same time."

However, the proposal was defeated 4-2. Mayor Chris Goertzen says the majority of council felt this was an inappropriate location for residential. "Council wasn't comfortable with this use for a number of reasons. Some of them specifically were that this is on an unserviced road, it doesn't have water and sewer services, and it's not even a paved road. So council was not comfortable approving the Conditional Use."