The Reeve for the RM of La Broquerie says they are not surprised that the City of Steinbach has objected to its new zoning by-law and development plan.

In the current by-law, there is a transitional zone policy that states all development within two miles of the border must be approved by both the RM of La Broquerie and the City of Steinbach to ensure that development suits both parties. As previously mentioned, Reeve Lewis Weiss says they don't want another municipality to control their development so council decided to drop the transitional zone policy.

Steinbach Mayor Chris Goertzen says the goal is to develop areas around the city's borders will full urban services in partnership with its neighbours. "We did have good discussion with the Joint Action Committee between La Broquerie and Steinbach," notes Goertzen. " We don't agree on everything obviously but we do certainly want to continue to have good dialogue between neighbours because we're building something bigger than just a city or an RM, we're building an economy and an efficiency into the whole system of development throughout the southeast. So in the areas around our city, we want to make sure that we work together with our neighbours. That transition zone that was included in the old by-law was appreciated and we want to see that continue and it’s not at this time thus we have to object."

the matter will now go before the municipal board and Weiss adds he doesn't think the board would mind if there was no transition zone between the two municipalities. "At the end of the day, I believe we will do the same kind of thing which they do on their side of the border so I think it will work out very well."