A senior official with City of Winnipeg PP&D recently indicated that their department is satisfied with the protection of natural areas in Qualico’s proposed DASZ subdivision and rezoning plan for Precinct K South. Qualico had met all their requests in this regard including forested areas along the Seine River and in the vicinity of the Smith Farm coulee. Some forest pockets beyond these locations were also being protected at the request of City Planning, in particular the forest found near Four Mile Road and the CPKC railway line.
Despite the City’s stated satisfaction, a side by side comparison of Qualico’s Seine River planned parkland dedication between this June and October shows a reduction in the size of the new Public Reserve, particularly in the area between the riverbank and the back of the home lots on the new cul-de-sac. (See above) SOS and the CBRA have asked Qualico for further information and for detailed map overlays of the area.
Qualico has previously stated that they will be asking for no further amendments to the 2014 Precinct K area structure plan. This week the City formally applied for a road closing of the Four Mile Road ROW east of the CPKC line and for portions of a never built portion of Creek Bend Road. As the City has indicated, much of of the Four Mile Road ROW is slated for protection as PR lands, as well portions of a small Smith Farm forest in the NW corner of South Fraipont.
Qualico will evidently take some of the Four Mile ROW for housing, while donating/trading a portion back to the City as an east-west Active Transportation pathway connection to Melnick Road in the east.
