The Manitoba government has announced it is planning to introduce legislation to give municipalities the freedom to choose whether they want to take part in the capital planning region. Details on what these legislative changes will look like will be shared once legislation has been introduced before the house. Information on next steps for the Winnipeg Metro Region and the Plan 20-50 public hearing process will be shared with members as it becomes available.

To view the government’s press release, click here.

Over the past year, the City has been working in consultation with Watson & Associates Economists and Dillon Consulting to review and update the Development Charges policies and rates. This comprehensive review is now complete and has led to a set of recommended changes.

The City would like to engage with Industry stakeholders on the proposed updates to the Development Charges rates and by-law. We are looking for written feedback on the following DRAFT documents:

• Development Charges By-law
• Development Charges Capital Infrastructure Policy (formerly Local Service Policy)
• Development Charges Background Study 

These documents, along with background information can be viewed on the City website: City of Brandon - Development Charges. The online commenting period is open from August 14 - September 4.

Please submit all enquiries or feedback relating to the above documents to LandDevelopment@brandon.ca by September 4. Please use the subject line ‘Development Charges Updates’. 

Applications are now being accepted for the Canada-Manitoba Job Grant. The grant benefits both business owners and employees by providing financial assistance toward external training costs. Learn more and apply today here.

After nearly five years of researching, talking to Winnipeggers, and drafting strategies, we are now ready for you to view the final draft plan as part of TMP2050. Both what we heard during Phases 1& 2 public engagement and further technical analysis helped us refine our strategy into TRANSPORTATION 2050: Reimagined Mobility.

TRANSPORTATION 2050: Reimagining Mobility is the product of our nearly five-year TMP2050 project. It is our master plan for moving Winnipeg’s transportation system forward. The plan is a comprehensive strategic document that outlines the methods and means to move our city and people into the future.

TRANSPORTATION 2050 provides a roadmap that will allow us to:

1. Prioritize maintaining existing infrastructure over building new infrastructure
2. Make strategic investments to move more people and goods using the roads we have
3. Support development of complete communities where people can access their daily needs within a short distance
4. And empower people to travel by their preferred mode

We have developed a plan that could solve Winnipeg's biggest transportation problems and make transportation safe and efficient for all of us, regardless of how we move or where we are going.

We have balanced priorities and needs to build a plan that will benefit pedestrians, cyclists, goods movement, emergency vehicles, and cars together.

We’re inviting people to learn more by:

1. Reviewing our bite-sized Guide to TRANSPORTATION 2050
2. Downloading the larger TRANSPORTATION 2050 policy document
3. Taking a deep-dive into one of the two draft subsidiary plans moving forward to Council with TRANSPORTATION 2050 (Goods Movement Study and the Pedestrian and Cycling Strategies Framework)

On July 8, 2024, City Council adopted amendments to the Zoning By-law to encourage development of more housing. The updated Zoning By-law will be published online in the coming days. This is a summary of the changes.

Zoning

• Rezoning all RSD Residential Single Detached Zone lands to RLD Residential Low Density Zone
• RSD Zone no longer exists
• Detached dwellings continue to be permitted in the RLD Zone
• More options to develop other forms of low-density residential across the city, such as duplexes, four-plexes, and row houses/townhouses
• Triplexes and four-plexes are permitted when there is a developed lane, otherwise conditional use
• Triplexes permitted on a 12.1m (40’) wide site, four-plexes permitted on a 15.2m (50’) wide site
• New proportional density bonusing for developments in the RMD Residential Moderate Density Zone if the development provides one-bedroom dwelling units or affordable dwelling units
• Density bonus percentage, up to a maximum of 50%, is on top of the maximum density allowed on site under the Zoning By-law (e.g. if five of ten dwelling units are affordable and/or one-bedroom units, you can increase by three more dwelling units)

Parking

• Reducing parking requirements for multiple dwellings (triplexes and up), boarding houses, and supportive housing (formerly special needs housing)
• Now minimum one parking space for each dwelling unit, including affordable dwelling units
• 0.5 parking space for each dwelling unit 56.0m2 (603 sq. ft.) or less
• Allowing up to two parking spaces, including required parking, on driveways in required front yards, such as for detached dwellings, but limited to maximum of 50% of front yard
• No more required parking for any uses in the Downtown zones

Other

• Detached and garage secondary suites, previously conditional uses, are now permitted
• Increasing supportive housing (formerly special needs housing) threshold to permit up to four residents, consistent with updated Manitoba Building Code thresholds
• Limiting site coverage of principal residential buildings to 50% of a site
• Where both adjacent sites have existing rear yards exceeding 12.1m, increasing minimum rear yard of rectangular interior sites to 25% of average of neighbours’ rear yards, but not more than 12.1m
• 

For more information or if you have questions, contact Andrew Mok, Senior Planner, at 204-729-2115 or a.mok@brandon.ca.

Manitoba Municipal Board public hearing notices can be found here.