Council approves subdivision, rezoning of Granite Curling Club parking lot

A plan to separate the parking lot on the west side of the Granite Curling Club passed a final vote at Winnipeg city council on Thursday.

The vote clears the way for the city to develop the lot into affordable housing.

Members of the curling club board had opposed the subdivision and rezoning, saying the loss of parking would lead to a loss of membership and revenue. They also questioned why the city had already approached a developer, the University of Winnipeg Community Renewal Corporation 2.0, to come up with a plan for the site.

Following a marathon session earlier this month that lasted into the evening, with dozens of delegates speaking in support and opposition, council's property and development committee split the vote on the rezoning and subdivision, with Coun. Evan Duncan and Coun. Vivian Santos voting in favour of the plan, and Coun. Russ Wyatt and Coun. Jason Schreyer opposed.

Mayor Scott Gillingham's inner circle on the executive policy committee unanimously supported an amending motion, directing city staff to work with Granite executives and the developer to come up with a parking plan and to support the club's sustainability "to the satisfaction of the Director of Public Works and the Director of Planning, Property and Development."

That same motion passed the vote at council on Thursday, with only Wyatt and Schreyer opposed.

"It's my belief that we do want an ideal society where we don't necessarily have to drive the car, but the reality is we don't have that right now. And if you take away an organization's parking, especially a not-for-profit that's trying to keep themselves alive by attracting people to come and use their facility, I think it has a big impact on them," Wyatt said during the council meeting.

Duncan said the question before council came down to whether the city wants affordable housing, or not.

"Everyone around the table, including all the public servants, said it is of the utmost importance to maintain the sustainability of the curling club," Duncan said.

The plan calls for a 111-unit affordable housing building. It would have 55 market-rent units, another 12 at 79 per cent of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation's median market rent, and 14 at 69 per cent of that rate. The remaining 30 units would offer rent geared to income.

The city has not yet held a hearing on the plan, which must be approved by council.