Portage la Prairie council heard heated discussion Monday night over a proposed eight-unit rental building on 125 8th Street SW.
The City hosted a public hearing during its regular meeting, where residents voiced concerns about parking, traffic, access, and the size of the proposed structure.
The property is currently zoned ‘R1’ Residential Single-Family Zone. The applicant, Karampaul Sandhu, requested rezoning to ‘R3’ Residential Multiple-Family Zone to allow for the eight-unit building.
Councillor Preston Meier, who supports multi-unit housing in general, says the objections highlight how important neighborhood input is but emphasizes the city’s need for more housing.
“I think in our city, the way it's growing, we do need housing and I know it's not at the expense of our soul,” he notes.
Meier continues that multi-unit housing is often necessary for developers to achieve a return on investment, making duplexes, fourplexes, six-plexes, and eight-plexes more common in Portage la Prairie.
He adds from personal experience: “I have lived in the same house on the same street for 25 years. I get where they're coming from, but I have had absolutely no issues, it has not affected my property values in any way shape or form.”
Councillor Terrie Porter, who voted against the rezoning, mentions several practical challenges she sees with the project.
“I also feel that this project might be overly ambitious, maybe something smaller. There is a lot of cars on there, there's not a lot of parking, there are sidewalks. Plus the fact the back alleys, you can't go down the back alley, that complicates things too,” she says, continuing that traffic flow and one-way streets add additional challenges for residents and visitors.
Porter notes that while the applicant is on the right track, the project is too large for the neighborhood to support at this time.
Mayor Sharilyn Knox, who also voted against the eight-unit building, remarks that while she is a proponent of more development in the city, access and street width remain major concerns.
“The only reason that I'm not supporting this tonight is because of the access in that area. Those streets are very tight and with the back lane not being accessible, that is a big concern for me,” she says.
Knox adds that the conversation about housing options, affordable versus low-income, remains an important dialogue for the community.
Council votes down rezoning
After discussion, council voted against giving second reading to the by-law to rezone the property from R1 to R3.
With the motion defeated, the proposed eight-unit rental project on 8th Street SW will not proceed, keeping the lot zoned for single-family homes.
The decision reflects a balance between promoting investment and respecting neighborhood character, with access and scale concerns cited repeatedly.
Smaller development approved on 8th Street NE
In contrast, council approved a rezoning for a smaller project on 104 8th Street NE.
Applicant Caleb Solomon sought permission to build a single-level three-plex on the property, also rezoning from R1 to R3.
The public hearing included some opposition but overall support, and council voted unanimously to pass the by-law.
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