Steinbach City Council approves variance application for Main Street subdivision
Steinbach City Council has approved a variance application that will allow a property owner on Main Street to subdivide a residential lot that does not meet the minimum width requirement.
At Tuesday night’s council meeting, a public hearing was held for a variance application submitted by Greg and Theressa Vogt, the owners of 896 Main Street. The application sought approval to subdivide a lot in the RR (rural residential) zone with a width of 77.75 feet, even though the zoning bylaw requires a minimum width of 100 feet.
Applicant plans to downsize within the same neighbourhood
Greg Vogt spoke at the hearing, explaining that he and his family have lived in a larger home just a couple of doors away for the past five to six years. With their children now older, they are looking to downsize.
“I’d like to subdivide, stay in the neighbourhood and just have another lot in the R zoning so that I could have a secondary suite,” said Vogt. “They’re very hard to find in Steinbach.”
The existing lot is serviced by a low-pressure sewer main along PTH 52 East and a private well for water. City Manager Troy Warkentin noted that notices regarding the hearing were issued in accordance with the Planning Act, and that two written submissions were received by administration which was submitted to council for review.
Warkentin recommended that council approve the application, contingent on the results of the public hearing, approval of a subdivision application, and a development agreement.
Council approves with no concerns from administration
Councillor Damian Penner made the motion to approve the variance, which was seconded by Councillor Jake Hiebert.
Penner supported the application, noting that the area has a mix of uses and that the request aligns with the city’s planning goals.
“This is a good example of how important our OCP (Official Community Plan) and our zoning bylaw is,” said Penner. “Because this has developed over many decades without a strategic plan… it’s best for the applicant to be able to develop their lot as they see fit, as long as it fits in and administration doesn’t show any concerns.”
He added that without a consistent planning approach, cities often end up with what planners describe as a “mishmash of uses.”
Council unanimously approved the application.