Land Use and Development

 

 

 

The West Alexander and Centennial Neighbourhoods are located in the inner city of Winnipeg and have a number of challenging planning issues and opportunities. It is home to many large institutional uses such as the Health Sciences Centre Complex, the Federal Virology lab as well as other health care and medical research institutions which have significant pressures to expand beyond their existing boundaries into the adjacent residential areas.

 

With this in mind City Council recognized the need to develop a strategy that could support the growth of the institutional sector while at the same time protect the integrity of the residential component of the neighbourhood. The planning process involved a variety of stakeholders, many with very different visions and priorities for the neighbourhood, yet the final plan was able to be passed almost unanimously. The Secondary Plan includes the intent of “no net loss of housing” shall occur in the neighbourhood as institutional uses expand, the goal to create a new identity for the neighbourhood through design guidelines and zoning provisions and a plan to incorporate principles of healthy neighbourhood supporting walk-ability and affordable housing through the use of density bonuses and adaptive reuse of buildings. This Secondary Plan has been adopted by Winnipeg City Council.

 

 

 

The Town of Snow Lake is a community of approximately 870 people located in the Boreal Forest of Northern Manitoba. Mining is the primary economic driver of the town and region and although mining is seen as a reason for great optimism, global economic hardships have seen the closure of mines and the plans to open new mines postponed.

 

The Town leaders decided that it is an opportunity to involve its citizens and get a sustainable plan into place for the coming decades. Snow Lake Sustainable Community Plan recognizes the need to consider and integrate all components of a community when planning for long term sustainability – to prepare for periods of growth, and decline, by prioritizing various measures that could be taken to improve its economic, environmental and social sustainability over the next twenty years.

 

 

The South Basin of Lake Manitoba is a unique area that is comprised of the Delta Marsh ecosystem, prime agricultural lands and grazing lands. The purpose of the Secondary Plan was to balance the demands for recreational and economic development with the protection of the natural environment.

 

This project was a result of mutual needs and timing – The Portage la Prairie Planning District Board needed a consultant to undertake a secondary plan for the South Basin of Lake Manitoba and the City Planning Department needed to find a project for their course work. One of the highlights of the project was the use of a participatory stakeholder consultation method called Social Analysis Systems to engage the residents and interest groups. It provided a unique and effective way to share knowledge and build mutual understanding to help work through some of the difficult issues in the community. The Secondary Plan has been adopted by the Portage la Prairie Planning District Board.