Steinbach city council has approved a variance for Schinkel Properties to accommodate plans by the Viet House restaurant to relocate. The restaurant, at #20, Highway 52 West, wants to move to a larger location next door at #32, Highway 52 West. However, that location has only 16 parking stalls whereas the city's Zoning Bylaw requires 21 for that size of restaurant. City councillor Cari Penner moved approval of the variance noting a number of Main Street restaurants rely on street parking.

"It's actually a common thing in our community to have some restaurants that have relatively little parking space and people are required to park either on Main Street or just off of Main Street on a side street, so I didn't find it a huge problem in this regard. There also are spaces next door that can also be co-used with the adjoining property."

City councillor Jac Siemens seconded the motion.

"It's not uncommon at all to go to a restaurant and have very few parking stalls to choose from at that restaurant. If we want higher density in our community, there will be less parking in many different places to attend different businesses and they'll have to get out of the car and walk. I think it's common in many urban centres and it's becoming that here too."

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra moved a friendly amendment that the approval be conditional on Schinkel Properties making arrangements to have some additional spaces available on properties that it owns nearby. Councillor Susan Penner moved an additional friendly amendment that those additional spaces be found on an adjacent parking lot owned by the company.

Council then gave unanimous approval to the variance with that condition attached.