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This article was published 28/9/2015 (1821 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A contentious plan for a new seven-storey apartment complex along Roslyn Road is winding its way through City Hall following the Sept. 16 City Centre Community Committee meeting.

Despite vocal opposition to the development during a public hearing, Couns. Jenny Gerbasi (Fort Rouge-East Fort Garry), John Orlikow (River Heights-Fort Garry) and Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) unanimously passed the closing, subdivision, and variance for the yet-to-be named Roslyn Road project.

The 78-unit building is designed by local firm Number TEN Architectural Group and is being developed by Sunstone Resort Communities. The plots of land for the complex include 166 (Dennistoun House), 176, 178, 180 and 184 Roslyn Rd. and have been zoned high density RMF-L since 2006. The plan also includes a single level of underground parking totalling 70 parking spaces.

"Really the premise of all the work we’ve done is bring to light the opportunity to revitalize and enhance that node on that street.”

Bill Coady, of Sunstone Resort Communities, presented the plan to City Centre Community Committee, highlighting the City’s desire for increased density in Osborne Village.

"We think it’s a very important project for us and potential and future residents," Coady said. "Really the premise of all the work we’ve done is bring to light the opportunity to revitalize and enhance that node on that street."

The developers say they intend to maintain as many mature trees as possible, will create a public walkway on the south side of Roslyn Road, and have designed the complex in a way that is broken up with vertical and horizontal elements.

Opposition to the development was fierce at the public hearing, with complaints from local residents regarding traffic flow down Roslyn Road and Nassau Street, unclear guidelines as to how much density is considered "high density," the number of variances being approved, access to the development from Nassau Street, and the demolition of a former heritage house.

DANIELLE DA SILVA - SOU'WESTER Dennistoun House at 166 Roslyn Rd. will be demolished for a new seven-storey apartment complex in Osborne Village.

"All the condos that have gone up in the area are huge in number. And it’s at a saturation point."

Roslyn Road resident Joan Hodgson said too much of Osborne Village’s history has been lost to new development and that traffic is bound to increase with new condominiums being built.

"All the condos that have gone up in the area are huge in number," Hodgson said. "And it’s at a saturation point. We’ve seen condos come up with plywood as walls… and to play down the importance of parking for any building whether rental or condominium is not a good idea."

Graham Evans, a 17-year resident of former heritage property Dennistoun House, shared his opposition to the development, saying the craftsmanship of the home is not found elsewhere.

"It had heritage designation, and under the last onslaught of the developers, the heritage designation was removed, and I’m not sure how you can remove heritage designation once it has been designated," Evans said. "It’s to their great shame that it was."

After an approximately two-hour long public hearing, the applications were passed with a modification to the variances mandating a minimum of three visitor parking spaces.

"It follows the Osborne Village Plan to the letter," Gerbasi said of the development. "There is an understanding that when you look at that specific lot… that is a high density area."

"I’m honestly making the decision I think is the right decision based on the facts in front of me. And I think that over time you will see that," Gerbasi added.

The application must be approved by council and final plans will return to City Centre Community Committee before a building permit is issued.

More information is available at roslynfaq.ca or on the City of Winnipeg’s Clerks website (www.winnipeg.ca/clerks).