Proposed RiverRidge riles residents

A proposed housing development in the city’s north end has ruffled the branches of several hundred RiverGrove and RiverBend residents.

The Lombard North Group proposed a 269-lot development for single families, to be called RiverRidge, between Chief Peguis Trail and Red River Boulevard, to be entered off of Main Street.

The new West Kildonan High School is also planned for that area.

About 100 people showed up to a neighbourhood meeting last week at École Riverbend Elementary School.

At the initial meeting on April 20, 250 to 300 people showed up to voice concerns, said City of Winnipeg planner Michael Robinson. “People had traffic concerns, they had concerns about green space and a need for active green space in the area,” he said.

“There is also a strong desire to preserve some land there, it’s home to some river bottom forest land with some old trees and it’s a critical habitat area, so people want to preserve that area as much as possible.

“They were also concerned about lot sizes. They felt they were too small and many thought the development wouldn’t be consistent with the River Grove development to the north.”

At last week’s meeting, many people commented on the fact the development group was taking their concerns seriously but a few residents were still upset over the plan to develop three acres of river bottom forest land.

Lombard North Group developer David Palubeski said the developers have done all they can to save as much of the forest as they can.

“We have a plan in place to save 72 per cent of the trees that the city is concerned about,” said Palubeski. “We had studies done, we hired an arborist, we know there’s deer there, we know there’s an eagle’s nest there, and we’ve adjusted our plans accordingly.

“But the city planning committee has said they will not approve our plans unless more of that land is given up.”

Palubeski said the developers have already given up 13 per cent of the land they want to develop to the city and can’t afford to give up any more.

The City also wants to change a section of street to include a curved road with a speed limit of 60 km/h, but the crowd’s reaction to that request was overwhelmingly negative.

As for lot sizes, Palubeski said the original plan has been scaled down to 217 lots from 269 to allow some sites to open up.

“I’ve been in contact with many members of River Grove over the past few weeks via e-mail,” said Palubeski. “Many have expressed their thanks and appreciation that we listened to their concerns.”

The public hearing for the development will most likely be scheduled to go before the Lord Selkirk West Kildonan Community Committee June 14, said Robinson, but he stressed that the date has not yet been confirmed.