Winnipeg’s City Council will be considering the Rapid Zoning By-law Amendments to the Winnipeg and Downtown Winnipeg Zoning By-laws when Council meets on May 30^th. UDI Chair Mike Carruthers provided comments on behalf of UDI during the public hearing on the amendments held during the SPC on Property and Development meeting on May 9, 2024. To view the May 9^th SPC on Property and Development meeting, click here.

The Zoning By-law amendments approved by the Property and Development Committee were subsequently approved by EPC on May 22, 2024.   To view the May 30 Council agenda, click here. 

UDI has been very active in working with both Council and the administration on recommending revisions to Winnipeg’s Zoning By-laws that will help facilitate and enable development and streamline the City’s approval processes. We will continue to advocate for our recommended changes to be included in the next two rounds of Zoning By-law changes the City administration is preparing, leading to a full re-write of Winnipeg’s Zoning By-laws in 2027.

Council will also be considering the Housing Accelerator Fund Capital Grant Program at its May 30^th meeting. The HAF Capital Grant Program will provide grants directly to developers to create more multi-unit housing units with an initial focus on affordable housing projects (up to $35,000/unit) and projects situated Downtown (up to $25,000/unit). Once approved, projects that meet minimum eligibility can apply when an online portal launches on May 31, 2024. Projects will be evaluated, and conditional approvals awarded by September 1, 2024. It is anticipated by the City administration that this first round of funding can create approximately 600 units of housing, with approximately 50% affordable. Details as outlined in the Administration’s report to council are contained in Report of Executive Policy Committee #7 on the Council’s agenda.

UDI Manitoba has launched 2 new Committees to assist and advice UDI’s Board of Directors on issues impacting Manitoba’s land development industry. Officially announced at UDI Manitoba’s AGM last month, the two new Committee’s have be constituted and will be providing their first reports to the UDI Board at its next meeting in June.

UDI’s new Technical Research Committee, chaired by Veronica Eno, will be providing the Board with advice and assistance on technical land development and construction issues, such as road and sidewalk warranty changes, park design and construction, and other technical issues. UDI’s Infill Committee, chaired by Tim Comack, will be providing the Board with advice and assistance on issues impacting residential infill development, including zoning by-law changes, downtown development, and many others

UDI has received the following bulletin from the Red River Planning District:

Various recommendations for service improvements have been presented by builders, municipalities, and Board members. RRPD administration has diligently reviewed concerns raised by stakeholders, particularly regarding the inspections and permit processing, and has implemented numerous improvements.

These include measures to enhance communication, facilitate consistency, streamline inspection procedures, and revise plan review processes. Resolutions from the RRPD Board have also directed the administration to address issues such as the acceptance of photographic evidence and communication with applicants throughout the permit process.

Read the full RRPD Builders Bulletin HERE.

For Inspector contact information, click here.

Manitoba Municipal Board public hearing notices can be found here.