Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Plan Amendment
Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Plan Amendment
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Item No. 1 Secondary Plan Amendment – 1485 Portage Avenue, 600 Empress
Street, 875 St. James Street and Lot 2 Plan 54622 42 St. James
(former stadium site)
(St. James Ward)
File SPA 1/2019 [c/r DAZ 210/2019]
1. That Council:
B. not give second or third reading to By-law No. 48/2019 (the “By-law”), being a
by-law to amend the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Secondary Plan By-law No.
6378/94 to re-designate from Area I to Area II the lands bounded by St. Matthews
Avenue, Empress Street, Portage Avenue and St. James Street; and
2. That the proper offices of the City be authorized to do all things necessary to implement
the intent of the foregoing.
1
Agenda – Assiniboia Community Committee – March 3, 2020
Subject:
Premises Affected: 1485 Portage Avenue, 600 Empress Street, 875 St. James Street
and Lot 2 Plan 54622 42 St. James (former stadium site)
2
Agenda – Assiniboia Community Committee – March 3, 2020
3
Agenda – Assiniboia Community Committee – March 3, 2020
The Winnipeg Public Service to advise that all statutory requirements with respect to this
application have been complied with.
REPRESENTATIONS:
In Support:
In Opposition:
For Information:
4
Agenda – Assiniboia Community Committee – March 3, 2020
Moved by Councillor
That the report of the Winnipeg Public Service be taken as read.
Moved by Councillor
That the receipt of public representations be concluded.
Moved by Councillor
That the recommendation of the Winnipeg Public Service be / not be
concurred in and forwarded to the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development,
Heritage and Downtown Development.
Moved by Councillor
That the following supporting reasons be provided, namely:
Moved by Councillor
That the public hearing with respect to this application be concluded.
5
Exhibit “16” referred to in File SPA 1/2019
ADMINISTRATIVE REPORT
Title: SPA 1/2019 (By-law No. 48/2019) – Amendment to the Airport Vicinity Protection
Area Secondary Plan By-law No. 6378/94 for the Polo Park/Former Stadium Site
Critical Path: Assiniboia Community Committee – Standing Policy Committee on Property and
Development, Heritage and Downtown Development – Executive Policy
Committee – Council
AUTHORIZATION
M. Pittet J. Kiernan
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
On April 16, 2019 the Urban Planning and Design Division received an application to amend the
Airport Vicinity Protection Area Secondary Plan By-law No. 6378/94 (the “AVPA”), proposing to
re-designate approximately 80 acres of land bordered by Portage Avenue, St. James Street, St.
Matthews Avenue, and Empress Street, (commonly referred to as “Polo Park” and the “former
Winnipeg Stadium site”), from policy Area I to Area II.
The purpose of the AVPA is to protect the 24-hour air operations of the Winnipeg James
Armstrong Richardson International Airport (Winnipeg Airport) by limiting residential noise
complaints. The AVPA severely limits new residential development, including prohibiting new
multi-family uses from establishing in policy Area I, but allows for new residential development
including multi-family uses in policy Area II. The proposal is to re-designate the subject lands
from policy Area I to Area II to allow for new residential uses, notably mixed use or multi-family
residential, to be considered in the future.
Because the AVPA is a secondary plan, a public hearing must be held in respect of the
proposed amendments after Council gives first reading to the amending by-law.
On November 21, 2019, Council gave first reading to the subject By-law No. 48/2019. First
reading was given after two, 30-day layovers were provided by the Executive Policy Committee
to allow for further consultation between the applicant and stakeholders. Meetings were held
between the applicant and Winnipeg Airports Authority (WAA) with City staff in attendance;
however, these meetings ultimately did not result in any resolution between the applicant and
stakeholder.
Since first reading, the applicant has submitted supplemental materials. The Public Service
circulated these materials to the WAA and Transport Canada.
6
The WAA has identified concerns with the proposed amendment but have indicated that they
would support a review of the AVPA in its entirety.
Although components of the development described in the proposal are consistent with the
policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities, the requested change in designation from
Area I to Area II of the AVPA of an individual, substantially-sized parcel such as proposed,
potentially poses a threat to the 24-hour operations of the Winnipeg Airport. Accordingly, the
Public Service does not support the subject application.
Key policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities include: supporting the role of the
James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as a major transportation hub for passengers
and cargo and supporting the 24-hour status of airport operations and airport related activities
by working with the Winnipeg Airports Authority and all stakeholders.
In accordance with section 270 of the City of Winnipeg Charter (the “Charter”), an objection to
the proposed amendment filed at the public hearing by a neighbouring municipality or another
level of government would result in the proposed amendment being referred to the Municipal
Board before second reading.
RECOMMENDATIONS
1. That Council:
A. reject development application No. SPA 1/2019;
B. not give second or third reading to By-law No. 48/2019 (the “By-law”), being a by-
law to amend the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Secondary Plan By-law No.
6378/94 to re-designate from Area I to Area II the lands bounded by St. Matthews
Avenue, Empress Street, Portage Avenue and St. James Street; and
C. rescind first reading of By-law No. 48/2019.
2. That the proper offices of the City be authorized to do all things necessary to implement the
intent of the foregoing.
On November 21, 2019 Council gave first reading to Secondary Plan By-law No. 48/2019 and
directed the Assiniboia Community Committee to conduct a public hearing and provide its
recommendations to Council.
Only Council can enact a by-law. A public hearing with respect to the secondary plan by-law is
required to be held between first and second reading.
If the recommendation is concurred in, the proposed secondary plan by-law amendment will not
proceed.
7
HISTORY/DISCUSSION
The Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Development Plan No. 6378/94 was adopted by Council on
May 25, 1994.
In December, 2002, the name of the Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Development Plan was
changed to the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Secondary Plan By-law (the “AVPA”) by the
Charter Implementation By-law No. 8162/2002.
On April 16, 2019, the Urban Planning and Design Division received applications to amend
the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Secondary Plan – By-law (SPA 1/2019) and the Airport
Vicinity PDO-1 within the Zoning By-law (DAZ 210/19).
The proposal is to re-designate the Polo Park Shopping Centre and former stadium site,
currently designated AVPA policy ‘Area I’, to ‘Area II’.
Amendments to the AVPA are administered through the secondary plan by-law amendment
process as provided in the Charter.
On November 21, 2019, Council gave first reading to By-law No. 48/2019. First reading was
given after two, 30-day layovers were provided by the Executive Policy Committee. The
layovers were granted to allow for further consultation between the applicant and
stakeholders. Meetings were held between the applicant and WAA with City staff in
attendance. However, these meetings ultimately did not result in any resolution between the
applicant and stakeholder.
A detailed summary of the application and relevant by-laws and policies is provided in
Appendix ‘A’ – Planning Discussion.
8
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Project Name:
By-Law No. 48/2019 – Amendment to the Airport Vicinity Protection Area
Secondary Plan By-Law No. 6378/94 for Polo Park/Former Stadium Site
COMMENTS:
9
CONSULTATION
1
The name of the Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Development Plan was changed to the Airport Vicinity
Protection Area Secondary Plan By-law by Charter Implementation By-law No. 8162/2002.
10
Regional Mixed Use Centre Policies
Under OurWinnipeg and the Complete Communities Direction Strategy, the subject site is
located within a Regional Mixed Use Centre (Regional Mixed Use Centre F – Polo Park
Area).
Under OurWinnipeg and the Complete Communities Direction Strategy, the key direction
guiding development in Regional Mixed Use Centres is:
KEY DIRECTION
Focus a significant share of growth to Centres and Corridors in a manner that:
- provides compact, mixed-use, high-quality urban development.
- concentrates people and jobs in areas well-served by the primary transit service,
located close to transit stops.
- concentrates urban development in a built form that helps to optimize existing
investment, municipal infrastructure, and facilities.
- encourages a built form that supports a pedestrian-friendly environment while
incorporating climate-sensitive site and building design.
Supporting policies of the key direction for Regional Mixed Use Centres are:
- Promote and guide the transformation of existing Regional Mixed Use Centres
through a proactive and collaborative process.
- Support high-frequency transit service by encouraging higher density residential and
higher intensity commercial and mixed uses within the centre of the development.
These will be focused on major transit stops.
- Create strong, multi-modal and transportation linkages from each Regional Mixed
Use Centre to Downtown, other Centres, Corridors, Parks and major attractions.
- Promote development within the Polo Park Regional Centre consistent with the
Airport Vicinity Protection Area Planned Development Overlay.
- Establish local goals and objectives for each Regional Mixed Use Centre while taking
into account its relationship to: OurWinnipeg, Sustainable Transportation Direction
Strategy, Downtown, Redevelopment Areas, Corridors and other Centres. This could
include minimum and maximum density and employment targets.
The residential mixed-use style development described in the proposal (“Letter of Intent”) is
consistent with the policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities.
OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities policies guiding development of Regional Mixed
Use Centres promote intensification with a mix of uses and higher density residential
development.
It should be noted that a key direction of Complete Communities is to promote development
at the Polo Park Regional Centre consistent with the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Planned
Development Overlay (as provided in the Zoning By-law). The Airport Vicinity Protection
Area Planned Development Overlay (PDO-1 Airport Vicinity) is not to be confused with the
AVPA, which is the secondary plan by-law providing land use policy direction of the area.
The PDO-1 Airport Vicinity is a regulatory device contained in the Winnipeg Zoning By-law
which reflects and implements the policies of the AVPA.
11
In this way, the OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities policies defer to the AVPA and
related PDO to provide details on the type and intensity of development appropriate within
the AVPA area, which includes the subject land.
Conclusion
Some components of the proposal are consistent with several Key Directions and Enabling
Strategies of OurWinnipeg/Complete Communities, in that the proposal has the potential to
accommodate the following in a Regional Mixed Use Centre:
o compact, mixed-use, high-quality urban development
o a concentration of people and jobs in areas well-served by the primary transit
service, located close to transit stops
o a concentration of urban development in a built form that helps optimize existing
investment, municipal infrastructure, and facilities.
However, given the information available at this time, the Public Service views the potential
risk of threatening the 24-hour air operations of the Winnipeg Airport and planned expansion
of the airport as outweighing the potential benefits described above.
Supporting the role of the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as a major
transportation hub for passengers and cargo and supporting the 24-hour status of airport
operations and airport related activities by working with the Winnipeg Airports Authority and
all stakeholders are key policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities.
4.1 Increase Strategic Infill Development That Provides Access to and Capitalizes on
Existing and Planned Corridors With Frequent Transit Service.
While components of the application align with the above Winnipeg Climate Action
Plan policy (potential infill development along a frequent transit corridor), the
proposal may not be considered strategic in that it may threaten the 24-hour
operations of the Winnipeg Airport.
SUBMITTED BY
12
Attachments:
Appendix ‘A’ – Planning Discussion
Appendix ‘B’ – By-law No. 48/2019
Appendix ‘C’ – Proposal (“Letter of Intent”)
Appendix ‘D’ – Supplemental Materials:
Polo Park Airport Vicinity Protection Area Study - Airport Noise and Adjacent
Development Report (ARUP Canada Inc., January 31, 2020)
Residential Development in Proximity to Airports - Polo Park Site Area
Amendment - Supplemental Report (Richard + Wintrup Planning and
Development, January 31, 2020)
Cadillac Fairview Multi-Family Residential Development Acoustic Zoning Review
(Pico Architecture Inc., October 2019).
13
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion
Re-designate from
Policy Area I to Area
II
RECOMMENDATION: Rejection
14
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
SUBJECT LAND
The proposed amendment applies to ~80 acres of land located North of Portage Ave, South
of St Matthews, East of St James St and West of Empress as indicated in Figure 1 – Site
Map.
The subject lands contain the Polo Park Shopping Centre, Scotia Bank Theater, CJOB and
the former site of the Target store and the Winnipeg Stadium.
PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The proponent is applying for an amendment to re-designate the subject lands from policy
Area I to Area II of the AVPA.
15
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
The subject land is not adjacent to land designated as policy Area II in the AVPA.
Redesignation of the subject land as proposed would result in a relatively small separated
portion of land designated AVPA Area II surrounded by land designated AVPA Area I. For
this reason the proposal can be characterized as a ‘spot amendment’.
The applicant has submitted a related zoning by-law amendment proposal (DAZ 210/2019)
which seeks to change the PDO district applied to the subject lands from Area I to Area II.
The PDO is further discussed in the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Planned Development
Overlay 1 (PDO-1 Airport Vicinity) section.
The proponent states that both amendment applications are required to “allow for mixed-use
residential development on the Polo Park site,” which is currently not permitted within Area I
of the AVPA (and PDO-1 Airport Vicinity).
The proponent further explains that this amendment is required to enable a future land use
approval process (subdivision and rezoning – DASZ), that if successful, will introduce
‘mixed-use residential uses’ to the site. The proponent recognizes that through a future
approval process, servicing and transportation requirements and improvements will be
considered.
The existing zoning on the site does not permit multi-family uses. A separate application to
rezone any portion of the subject lands to a zoning district that allows multi-family
development has not been submitted at this time.
The proponent acknowledges that the proposed AVPA amendment does not approve any
future residential development on the site and that a “post amendment planning exercise will
determine exact development thresholds including residential densities, location of
residential uses and their configuration.”
Key supporting reasons for the proposed amendment as expressed in the proponent’s letter
of intent, include:
o Allowing residential development on the subject lands is in keeping with the vision of
OurWinnipeg’s ‘Live Work Play’ philosophy.
o The lands are currently underutilized with several areas of opportunity for
densification, including the former CanadInns Stadium site.
o Retail is close to saturation in the Polo Park corridor, and the inclusion of other uses,
particularly residential, will help balance the mix of uses, and ultimately result in more
employment and further growth potential.
o There is market demand for multi-family development in the general area.
o Further consideration for the amendment and allowing residential land-uses in the
Polo Park area include:
The NEF Contours that form the basis of the policies and regulations are 20
years old.
Jet engines are increasingly quieter with advancements made in the last 20
years in aerodynamics computers and engineering.
Construction standards and building materials have improved over the last 20
years and can mitigate acoustic noises on habitants.
16
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
17
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
NEF contour maps are made available to local governments for use in conjunction with
Transport Canada’s recommended land uses as presented in Figure 2 – Community
Response Prediction to NEF Levels.
The AVPA facilitates the adoption of NEF contours into a functional map with defined
restrictions that can be easily administered by the City, utilized by developers and
understood by residents.
The boundaries of policy Areas I and II provided in the AVPA are directly related to the NEF
contours. The 25 NEF contour approximates the outer limit of the AVPA plan area (see
Figure 3 – AVPA NEF Contours and Policy Areas).
18
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
The AVPA indicates that the NEF contours reflect the ultimate traffic volume at Winnipeg
International Airport, and includes the potential for an additional runway to the northeast of
the existing runway. The general alignment of the future runway has been added to Figure
3.
The AVPA also provides that the Airport vicinity boundary will be reviewed and revised as
necessary to reflect changes to the NEF contours. Re-calculation of the NEF contours
would result in consideration for altering the policy Area I and Area II boundaries.
19
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
Fut
ure
Ru
nw
ay
Figure 3 - AVPA NEF Contours and Policy Areas (*future runway added)
20
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
The AVPA states that that the City shall regulate the use of land and buildings within the
AVPA as follows:
i. within Area I no new residential development shall be permitted (subject to statutory
nonconforming rights and any related variance); but, existing dwellings may be
replaced if destroyed or demolished. Subject to any required rezoning or other
change in land use controls. Exceptions for minor residential infilling in existing and
established residential areas may be approved;
ii. subject to any required zoning or other change in land use controls, within Area II
new single family dwellings may be approved and new multiple residential dwellings
may be approved up to 85 units per hectare (35 units per acre) and approved above
that density by conditional use approval.
The subject land is located in policy Area I of the AVPA (See Figure 4 – Subject Land and
NEFs).
Su
bje
ct
La
nd
21
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
2
The name of the Winnipeg Airport Vicinity Development Plan was changed to the Airport Vicinity
Protection Area Secondary Plan By-law by Charter Implementation By-law No. 8162/2002.
22
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
Subject
Land
23
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
- concentrates people and jobs in areas well-served by the primary transit service,
located close to transit stops.
- concentrates urban development in a built form that helps to optimize existing
investment, municipal infrastructure, and facilities.
- encourages a built form that supports a pedestrian-friendly environment while
incorporating climate-sensitive site and building design.
Supporting policies of the key direction for Regional Mixed Use Centres are:
- Promote and guide the transformation of existing Regional Mixed Use Centres
through a proactive and collaborative process.
- Support high-frequency transit service by encouraging higher density residential and
higher intensity commercial and mixed uses within the centre of the development.
These will be focused on major transit stops.
- Create strong, multi-modal and transportation linkages from each Regional Mixed
Use Centre to Downtown, other Centres, Corridors, Parks and major attractions.
- Promote development within the Polo Park Regional Centre consistent with the
Airport Vicinity Protection Area Planned Development Overlay.
- Establish local goals and objectives for each Regional Mixed Use Centre while taking
into account its relationship to: OurWinnipeg, Sustainable Transportation Direction
Strategy, Downtown, Redevelopment Areas, Corridors and other Centres. This could
include minimum and maximum density and employment targets.
The residential mixed-use style development described in the proposal (“Letter of Intent”) is
consistent with the policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities.
OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities policies guiding development of Regional Mixed
Use Centres promote intensification with a mix of uses and higher density residential
development.
It should be noted that a key direction of Complete Communities is to promote development
at the Polo Park Regional Centre consistent with the Airport Vicinity Protection Area Planned
Development Overlay (as provided in the Zoning By-law). The Airport Vicinity Protection
Area Planned Development Overlay (PDO-1 Airport Vicinity) is not to be confused with the
AVPA, which is the secondary plan by-law providing land use policy direction of the area.
The PDO-1 Airport Vicinity is a regulatory device contained in the Winnipeg Zoning By-law
which reflects and implements the policies of the AVPA.
In this way, the OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities policies defer to the AVPA and
related PDO to provide details on the type and intensity of development appropriate within
the AVPA area, which includes the subject land.
Conclusion
Some components of the proposal are consistent with several Key Directions and Enabling
Strategies of OurWinnipeg/Complete Communities, in that the proposal has the potential to
accommodate the following in a Regional Mixed Use Centre:
o compact, mixed-use, high-quality urban development
o a concentration of people and jobs in areas well-served by the primary transit
service, located close to transit stops
o a concentration of urban development in a built form that helps optimize existing
investment, municipal infrastructure, and facilities.
24
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
However, given the information available at this time, the Public Service views the potential
risk of threatening the 24-hour air operations of the Winnipeg Airport and planned expansion
of the airport as outweighing the potential benefits described above.
Supporting the role of the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as a major
transportation hub for passengers and cargo and supporting the 24-hour status of airport
operations and airport related activities by working with the Winnipeg Airports Authority and
all stakeholders are key policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities.
C3
C
3
Subject
Land
C4
Figure 6 - Zoning
The C3 and C4 zoning districts do not allow residential uses with the exception of ‘Assisted
Living Facilities’, which are permitted within the C3 zoning district.
Development of residential uses on the subject lands would require an amendment to the
zoning by-law. Future development applications to rezone these lands to allow for
residential uses may require the completion of engineering studies and could be subject to
development or servicing agreements.
A separate application to rezone any portion of the subject lands from C3 or C4 to a zoning
district that allows multi-family development has not been submitted at this time.
25
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
Currently, any development applications to rezone the subject land for residential uses
would have to be refused (section 275(2) of the Charter) because such a proposal would not
conform to the policies of the AVPA, the secondary plan by-law for the area.
In addition, development of the subject lands are further regulated in the Zoning By-law by a
Planned Development Overlay district, (PDO-1 Airport Vicinity)
26
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
ANALYSIS
Relevance of NEF Contours
It has been suggested that the NEF contours provided in the AVPA may no longer be valid
as jet engines have become increasingly quieter in the 20 years since the NEF contours
were generated.
NEF contours are the result of a complex set of calculations which consider a number of
variables including runway geometry, flight paths, aircraft fleet mix, airplane engine type and
time of day. The process by which the NEF contours of the AVPA were made included a
technical review by Transport Canada to validate that the inputs and software were used
appropriately.
The WAA has indicated that the NEF contours provided in the AVPA represent a forecast of
noise exposure 20 years into the future. Calculation of the NEF contours included
consideration of a future runway, which has yet to be established.
Discussion with WAA suggest that the NEF contours provided in the AVPA still appear to
accurately model existing and future noise resulting from aircraft associated with the
Winnipeg Airport.
The WAA also suggested that while airplane technology has improved over the past 20
years, new airplanes which incorporate such technology do not fly predominantly out of
Winnipeg.
27
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
The Winnipeg Airport’s ability to generate economic benefits to the community at large
depends on its ability to remain competitive with other airports and operate as 24-hours.
Supplemental Materials
Supplemental materials consisting of the following were provided by the Proponent in digital
format on January 31, 2020:
o Polo Park Airport Vicinity Protection Area Study - Airport Noise and Adjacent
Development Report (ARUP Canada Inc., January 31, 2020)
o Residential Development in Proximity to Airports - Polo Park Site Area Amendment -
Supplemental Report (Richard + Wintrup Planning and Development, January 31,
2020)
o Cadillac Fairview Multi-Family Residential Development Acoustic Zoning Review
(Pico Architecture Inc., October 2019).
These materials are included in Appendix ‘D’ and were circulated to the WAA and Transport
Canada. A brief review of the key points from these materials is summarized below.
3
Transport Canada (2013/2014) Aviation - Land Use in the Vicinity of Aerodromes (TP 1247E, Ninth Edition).
Page 28. Retrieved from [Link]
28
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
4
Transport Canada (2013/2014) Aviation - Land Use in the Vicinity of Aerodromes (TP 1247E, Ninth Edition).
Page 28. Retrieved from [Link]
5
Transport Canada (2013/2014) Aviation - Land Use in the Vicinity of Aerodromes (TP 1247E, Ninth Edition).
Page 22. Retrieved from [Link]
29
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
6
Richard + Wintrup Planning and Development. (Jan 31, 2020). Residential Development in Proximity to Airports –
Polo Park Site Area Amendment – Supplemental Report (page 14).
7
Feith, J. (2019, August 14). Late-night flights and Trudeau airport expansion challenged in court. The Montreal
Gazette, retrieved from [Link]
challenged-in-court
30
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
CONCLUSIONS
The original Letter of Intent submitted by the applicant indicated an intention to establish
residential mixed-use development on the subject lands in the Polo Park neighbourhood.
The letter indicates that:
o Multi-family residential uses are not currently permitted in the Area I designation of
the AVPA.
o An amendment to the AVPA is required to re-designate the subject lands from policy
Area I to Area II.
o Re-designation of the subject land to policy Area II does not represent an approval
for residential development on the subject lands. However, discussions related to
the residential development of the subject lands cannot occur unless the subject land
is re-designated to policy Area II.
o Future multi-family residential development on the subject lands will require approval
of a development application which includes rezoning the subject lands to a zoning
district that allows for residential uses. Such approvals would determine the
appropriate level of residential/mixed use development appropriate for the site, as
well as any servicing requirements.
Supplemental material submitted by the Proponent to the Public Service provides additional
supporting rationale for the proposed amendment. Key general points raised in the
supplemental material include:
o The AVPA and NEFs included in the AVPA require a review
o The AVPA may not be consistent with the most current Transport Canada Guidelines
o Land use planning regulations in other jurisdictions allow for residential development
in areas with higher value NEFs (ex. higher than 30 NEF)
o There are noise mitigation approaches that may help improve living standards for
future residents of dwellings in the vicinity of the Winnipeg Airport.
Some components of the proposal are consistent with several Key Directions and Enabling
Strategies of OurWinnipeg/Complete Communities, in that the proposal has the potential to
accommodate the following in a Regional Mixed Use Centre:
o compact, mixed-use, high-quality urban development
o a concentration of people and jobs in areas well-served by the primary transit
service, located close to transit stops
o a concentration of urban development in a built form that helps optimize existing
investment, municipal infrastructure, and facilities.
However, given the information available at this time, the Public Service views the potential
risk of threatening the 24-hour air operations of the Winnipeg Airport and planned expansion
of the airport as outweighing the potential benefits described above.
While all of the points above warrant consideration at a public hearing, these points may be
best considered through a comprehensive review of the AVPA through a planning process
that is supported by current information, a consistent methodology, and collaboration with
stakeholders.
31
APPENDIX ‘A’ – Planning Discussion Con’t
The future viability of the Winnipeg Airport is of Provincial importance. Accordingly, the
creation of the AVPA involved multiple interested stakeholders that included the WAA,
Transport Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the RM of Rosser. Today, the same
stakeholders should be considered as well as CentrePort Canada Inc., which relies on the
continued 24-hour unrestricted air operations at Winnipeg Airport.
The WAA has expressed concerns with the proposed amendment. However, the WAA has
indicated that they would support a review of the AVPA.
A comprehensive review of the AVPA generally aligns with the January 17, 2017
recommendations of the Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development, Heritage
and Downtown Development, where a review of the AVPA was requested as part of the
OurWinnipeg process.
Supporting the role of the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as a major
transportation hub for passengers and cargo and supporting the 24-hour status of airport
operations and airport related activities by working with the Winnipeg Airports Authority and
all stakeholders are key policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities.
Furthermore, Complete Communities provides the following policy direction regarding the
periodic review of the AVPA:
o Adhere to the Airport Vicinity Development Plan (AVDP) and periodically review the
plan in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the proposed amendment be not supported for the following
reasons:
Approval from Area I to Area II of the AVPA of an individual, substantially-sized parcel
such as proposed potentially poses a threat to the 24-hour air operations of the
Winnipeg Airport.
Supporting the role of the James Armstrong Richardson International Airport as a major
transportation hub for passengers and cargo and supporting the 24-hour status of airport
operations and airport related activities by working with the Winnipeg Airports Authority
and all stakeholders are key policies of OurWinnipeg and Complete Communities.
The future viability of the Winnipeg Airport is of Provincial importance. As discussed
through the application process, many view the AVPA as dated and in need of a review.
Through such a review, changes to the AVPA may be considered with relevant
stakeholders. This approach is consistent with OurWinnipeg and Complete
Communities:
o Adhere to the Airport Vicinity Development Plan (AVDP) and periodically review
the plan in cooperation with relevant stakeholders.
32
Appendix ‘B’ – By-law No. 48/2019
Appendix ‘D’ – Supplemental Materials: Polo Park Airport Vicinity Protection Area
Study – Airport Noise and Adjacent Development Report (ARUP Canada Inc.,
January 31, 2020)
33