Third street rezoning denied after extreme backlash from community

Steinbach City Council chambers were packed for a public hearing on a proposed zoning change along Third Street in Steinbach on Tuesday evening.

Steinbach City Council denied the application to rezone several properties along Third Steet from Residential Low Density to Residential High Density following second reading.

The rezoning bylaw aimed to rezone several properties to allow for the consolidation of the lots and construction of a multifamily building on the properties. 

These properties have been the subject of previous applications some time ago for rezoning to Residential Medium Density, for which at that time, council denied the application. 

Once again this time around, many people from the neighbourhood showed up to the public hearing to voice their concerns.

The applicant, Luke Wiebe with Kingdom Home Building, presented his plan for the multifamily building. 

Wiebe mentioned potential amenities he would possibly add such as gardens, an outdoor pool, hot tubs, gardens, a coffee bar, and a golf simulator. 

He mentioned he did not talk to the majority of the neighbours before the public hearing. 

In total, 13 people went up to the podium at the public hearing to announce their opposition and their reasons for opposing the bylaw. 

One of the people who spoke against the application, Graham Fry, was also at the public hearing for the same lot back in 2014. 

“I was here 10 years ago, and pretty much nothing has changed with this whole plan except now they want to build a bigger building, which doesn't make quite sense,” he says. “That's not that style of neighborhood, it's an old neighbourhood.” 

He also notes a new three-story multi-family building would look out of place in their older single-family dwelling area. 

Karen Penner added that development in general is not a bad thing, but this development would not be a good fit in this area. 

“I know we have to be careful about nimbyism, that doesn't mean all development is bad, but this building does not belong in our neighborhood.” 

After five members of the community voiced their concerns, Wiebe requested to table the meeting. 

“Is it possible that I could ask to table this meeting and come up with a new plan within two months, that I could go door to door and talk to the community about, and that would be completely different from this plan?” 

Councillor Michael Zwaagstra then voiced that he was not in favour of that idea, saying that a public hearing is when council receives information, and ultimately makes a decision. 

“If the developer has suddenly decided he wants to consult with the neighborhood, then he's welcome in a year or two to come up with a plan and consult with the neighbors, and we can have a public hearing at that time.” 

Councillor Damian Penner adds that due diligence needs to be done before a public hearing.  

“I also feel it's unfair to the residents to have something like this suspended over two months. Their decision, whether approval or denial, ultimately should be made today, and the residents shouldn't have to be suspended and then have to come out again to voice any concerns at a future public hearing.” 

Wiebe then asked if it was possible to withdraw his application. 

“Just to save everybody time. If everybody wants to speak, that's totally fine. The reason I'm saying that is out of respect for the residents and everyone's time.” 

Mayor Earl Funk then responded:

“They've come all this way and they've spent the time getting ready, so respect for them is at the utmost at this point.” 

Council decided to leave the podium open to give everyone a chance to speak, and eight other people decided to voice their concerns with the application. 

Afterward, councillor Zwaagstra made the motion to deny, which was then seconded by councillor Damian Penner. 

Councillor Zwaagstra then emphasized that public hearings do make a difference when it’s time for council to make decisions.  

“To anyone who ever has the impression or thought that public hearings don't make a difference, they do because we do want to hear what neighbors have to say,” he says. “I agree with many of the concerns in regards to the substantial change to the neighborhood and the number of units being proposed... and I think the message is also very clear that if you're looking to develop in an established neighborhood, it would be wise to consult with the neighborhood prior to coming to a public hearing.” 

He emphasizes that consultation should happen prior to a public hearing.

"Rather than having it short-circuited halfway through with the suggestion to table and all that because that is not how the neighborhood should be treated in this regard. And I'm just not impressed by presentations that spitball pools and gardens and golf simulators and all that, we need actual plans."