The City of Winnipeg’s Property and Planning (PP&D) department have responded to my last email. “Thank you for your inquiry. We will get back to you sometime next week after looking into this further.” I look forward to having conversations with them.
While Councillor Mayes has attended the two recent Precinct K public meetings, the CBRA has not received any written communication from him on this matter. In the light of his planned retirement in October, we should probably not expect a future meeting with him.
To the 95% of CBRA members who live west of the Seine River, Qualico’s current Precinct K DASZ subdivision and rezoning application is probably not on their radar. Phase 2/3, the final part of the development that does affect them, albeit indirectly, may be a decade in the future. The almost mythical Warde Avenue Bridge over the Seine may even be a reality by then. As I said, South Royalwood development is not top of mind for most CBRA members.
For the dozen plus CBRA families that do live east of the Seine River, Qualico’s DASZ does matter. Qualico and Landmark, its planner, are following the example that rival developer Genstar et al set in 2014, i.e., give the historic Creek Bend Residential Estate community a wide berth. Qualico has no intention to improve or to change the local area. They will not install underground sewer, water or land drainage for rural residents. They will not pave Creek Bend Road in front of lands and property they do not own. Creek Bend residents will not have to pay for expensive local improvements. In fact, Qualico’s traffic calming measures planned for the now urban Creek Bend Road implicitly relies on rural Creek Bend remaining as a dusty, uninviting access route.
The down side for rural South Royalwood residents is that “no change” creates an uncertainty of its own. Are we allowed to replace our old farm houses and our failing septic fields without first getting full City services? Are we allowed to subdivide our properties? When the Sioux Road West/Aimes Road intersection is permanently closed, how will we obtain two access points for emergency vehicles to protect Sioux Road properties. The CPKC Emerson line is a busy route for crude oil containers to travel upon. Is this a dangerous situation?
Is a replacement or parallel road west of Sioux Road West best practice? If so, where should such a road be situated?
In terms of Save Our Seine, Seine River Greenway Active Transportation trail extensions almost always depend on the subdivision process to obtain needed lands and right-of-way? How can the proposed east side trail in South Royalwood be completed if a de-facto freeze on future development is in place?
Are Creek Bend residents allowed to petition for local area road improvements in 2026 before the Qualico DASZ is approved? If a Creek Bend Road petition was approved by the Riel CC, would Qualico then be obligated to expand its then undersized retention pond system to accommodate future urban growth on adjacent greenfield lands that they do not own?
There are many questions for us to ask and little time to get the answers. Unfortunately, the political process in SE Winnipeg is currently in total flux, and local residents do not know who the decision makers at the important Riel Community Committee meeting next winter will be.
Interesting times indeed.
MAP KEY- Red lines are subject Qualico lands
Grey lines are future Qualico streets
Blue lines are Qualico’s future underground services
Aquamarine lines are possible underground services extensions