Petition launched against housing development in Manitoba community

Homeowners in East St. Paul say a planned development will change the character of the area. CTV’s Jeff Keele has more.

A plan to build hundreds of homes on local farmland is drawing opposition in East St. Paul, where more than 1,000 letters against the development have been submitted.

East St. Paul is no small village, but it has a rural feel for many homeowners like Robyn Chubey and Joie Froese.

“I love that it’s kind of like country living, close to the city — that’s why we moved out here,” said Froese.

“What we love about living here is the quiet country lifestyle,” said Chubey.

Now, many are worried that the country lifestyle is being upended by a development planned on 248 acres of farmland-type property.

A public hearing is scheduled for Tuesday to consider a rezoning and subdivision application for the property on Mowat Road. According to a report, the proposal includes 482 lots for single- and two-family homes and condominiums, plus parks and recreation spaces. Lot sizes start at 8,000 square feet and go up from there.

Froese lives across the street from the site.

“I think that will just change the whole vibe of East St. Paul,” she said.

Chubey’s property backs onto the site. She is in favour of housing being built but feels the proposed lot sizes are too small and that the development would see multiple homes pressed up against her property line.

“That creates issues with noise, with light, with animals that already exist on people’s properties, with their farming practices — many people here have market gardens,” said Chubey.

She says a petition against the development has been circulating with more than 1,000 signatures.

Concerns about traffic and questions about water and sewer services have also been raised.

The applicant for the project is Waterside Development Corp. In a statement to CTV News, the company says it is following policies for residential development and using existing zones within the zoning bylaw that adhere to the development plan.

“The subdivision will be fully serviced with piped sewer and piped water. Red River Planning District has circulated the application and government departments have no objections. Red River Planning District recommends approval of both applications,” the statement reads.

Waterside Development also says this won’t happen overnight — it will take 10 to 15 years to complete.

Tuesday’s public hearing could run long, as large numbers are expected.

“Normally the meetings have a lot of attendance in general, so I think this one will be a lot more than that,” said Froese.