THE CITY OF WINNIPEG WEST ALEXANDER & CENTENNIAL NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN BY-LAW NO. 64/2008, as amended A By-law of THE CITY OF WINNIPEG to adopt a secondary plan for the West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood. THE CITY OF WINNIPEG, in Council assembled, enacts as follows: 1 This By-Law may be referred to as the “West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan By-Law”, as amended. 2 The document entitled “West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan”, attached hereto and marked as Schedule 1 to this By-law, is hereby adopted as a secondary plan for the West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood. RECEIVED FIRST READING on this 23rd day of April, 2008 RECEIVED SECOND READING on this 16th day of July, 2008 RECEIVED THIRD READING on this 16th day of July, 2008 DONE AND PASSED in Council assembled, this 16th day of July, 2008 File No. SP 1/2008 West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan Prepared by the Planning, Property and Development Department Planning and Land Use Division May 26th, 2008 West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan The Planning and Land Use Division wishes to acknowledge the contributions the Stakeholder Committee members made to help in the development of this plan. The Stakeholders included participants from the following groups and organizations: McDermot-Sherbrook Resident Association (cid:139) Centennial Community Improvement Committee (cid:139) West Alexander Resident Association (cid:139) Elgin Avenue Resident Association (cid:139) University of Manitoba (cid:139) International Centre For Infectious Diseases (cid:139) Health Sciences Centre (cid:139) Committee to the Canadian Centre for Animal and Human Health (cid:139) Research National Microbiology Lab and Public Health Agency of Canada (cid:139) Red River College (cid:139) Winnipeg Health Authority/Health Science Centre Foundation (cid:139) Myers Drugs Ltd (cid:139) Riediger’s Super Market Ltd. (cid:139) Furthermore we would like to thank community members for supporting the planning process by sharing their opinions, voicing their concerns and by making valuable contributions through participating in the public open houses. page i West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan Table of Contents Part I Part III How to Use the Plan Plan Management Chapter 1 – How to Use the Plan 1 Chapter 9 - Plan Management 38 Plan Need 3 Chapter 10 - General Administration 39 Plan Concept 3 Chapter 11 - Plan Monitoring & Review 41 Vision 4 Chapter 12 - Glossary 44 Goals 4 Appendix A 48 Community Assets & Challenges 4 Appendix B 49 Time Frame 5 Chapter 13 - Implementation 51 Plan Formulation Process & Public 5 Zoning Map 53 Input Part IV Part II Background Neighbourhood Plan Introduction 55 Land Use Map 6 Chapter 1 4– Study Area Chapter 2 - Residential 7 14.1 Neighbourhood Boundaries 56 Low Density Residential 10 14.2. Regional Context 56 Medium Density Residential 11 14.3. Neighbourhood Overview 56 Residential Mixed-Use 14 14.4 Why Plan? 57 Chapter 3 - Commercial 16 Chapter 15 – History of the Neighbourhoods Commercial Mixed-Use 19 15.1 Centennial 58 Character Commercial 21 15.2 West Alexander 59 Chapter 4 - Institutional 22 Chapter 16 – Community Profile Proposed Expansion Map 23 16.1 Neighbourhood Statistics 61 Chapter 5 – Industrial 29 Population 61 Age 61 Chapter 6 – Transportation 31 Families 62 Chapter 7 - Parks and Open Space 34 Marital Status 62 Chapter 8 - Heritage 36 Lone Parent Families 62 Mobility 62 Ethnic Diversity 62 Language 63 page ii West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan Income 63 Summary 83 Low Income Cut-Off 63 19.6 Parks & Open Space Precincts 84 Recreation Facilities /Community Employment 63 84 Centres Education 63 Parks & Open Play Spaces 85 16.2 Sense of Community 63 Summary 87 16.3 Neighbourhood Challenges & 64 Chapter 20 - Neighbourhood Schools and Strengths Community Facilities Chapter 17 – Zoning 20.1 Neighbourhood Schools 88 17.1 Residential Zoning 66 Summary 90 17.2 Commercial Zoning 66 20.2 Churches/Places of Worship 90 17.3 Industrial Zoning 66 20.3 Day Care Centres 90 17.4 Parks and Open Space 66 20.4 Youth Drop-In Centres: 91 17.5 Character Area 66 20.5 Adults & Seniors Drop-in Centres 91 Chapter 18 – Heritage Assets 68 Summary 91 Chapter 19 – Land Use Chapter 21 – Traffic and Transportation 19.1 Land Use Distribution 72 21.1 Traffic Volumes 92 19.2 Residential Precincts 73 21.2 Traffic Operational Issues 93 Housing Tenure 74 21.3 Proposed Capital Work - Street 94 Public Sector Supported Housing 74 Improvements Age & Condition of Residential 75 21.5 Public Transit 95 Buildings 21.6. Parking 96 Demolitions and Vacant Lots 76 Chapter 22 – Summary of Findings and Residential Market Values 77 Next Steps Summary 77 22.1 Summary of Findings 97 19.3 Institutional Precincts 78 22.2 Implications of Key Findings for 98 Health Sciences Centre /University 78 Planning of Manitoba Bannatyne Campus Virology Lab Precinct 80 Exchange District Education 80 Part V Precinct Meeting Notes 100 Health & Related Institutions 81 Summary 81 19.4 Commercial Precincts 81 Summary 82 19.5 Industrial Precincts 82 page iii West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan P I ART H U P OW TO SE THE LAN page 1 West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan The West Alexander & policies for open spaces, Chapter 1 Centennial Neighbourhood Plan is streetscaping, and the urban divided into several parts and forest; How to Use the elements for ease of use. This Heritage – Contains policies (cid:139) section explains how to use the for heritage conservation in Plan plan, and where to look for the plan area; specific information. Each of the above Elements Persons or groups looking for contain the following detailed background information subsections: on the neighbourhoods, and in depth coverage of current land use (cid:139) Overview– Background and patterns and issues in the area contextual information should consult Part IV: Background relating to the specific Study. Element, including a description of land use, Part I: How to Use the Plan includes transportation networks, the rationale for the Plan, the issues, and challenges for the overall Plan concept and goals, future; and an explanation of the Plan (cid:139) Issues –Issues that have been formulation process. identified as important by the community; Part II: Neighbourhood Plan presents (cid:139) Intent – Explains the intent the substantive portion of the Plan and purpose of each Element as it relates to urban form and and each sector within that land use. The Elements contained Element; within this Section include: (cid:139) Policies – Provides principles and required actions for (cid:139) Residential – Contains development expectations, policies to guide development improvements, and future and conservation of existing actions in the housing stock; neighbourhoods; (cid:139) Commercial – Contains (cid:139) Actions – Policies which policies to guide commercial require future action. The development; specific action, by whom it is (cid:139) Institutional – Contains to be done, the priority level, policies to guide institutional and anticipated timeframe are areas; shown in the implementation (cid:139) Industrial – Contains policies schedule. to guide industrial areas; (cid:139) Transportation – Contains Part III: Plan Management includes policies to guide development the portions of the Plan relating to projects and capital public participation in planning, improvements for streets, plan management, general public transit, multi-modal administration, monitoring & transportation, and on-street review, and a glossary of terms. and off-street parking. Parks & Open Space – (cid:139) Provides information and page 2 West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan Background Study: new and emerging facilities Safety contribute significantly to the A healthy neighbourhood means Part IV: Background Study City’s economic future. that people look out for one The Background Study includes a another. Homes close to the detailed neighbourhood overview At the same time, their presence sidewalk with porches and and an identification of key exerts significant and ongoing windows out front allow you to issues. The Study was completed pressure on the residential keep an eye on the street. You can in 2006, and therefore reflects precincts within these stop and chat with neighbours at data gathered up to that year. neighbourhoods, making attempts the shops, by the front porch, or at to stabilize and rejuvenate them a nearby park. Neighbours can more difficult. meet each other along the street, and children can play safely. Striking a balance, then, which supports and encourages growth and development of these institutions while protecting and enhancing the quality of the residential neighbourhoods, is the thrust of the Secondary Plan for the West Alexander & Centennial Meeting Notes: neighbourhoods. Part V: Stakeholder Meeting Notes This section of the document Plan Concept: includes the meetings notes taken The West Alexander & from the Stakeholder Meetings, Centennial Neighbourhood Plan is dated from March 2007 to based on the concept of a Health December 2007. The meetings and Wellness District – where helped define neighbourhood principles of a healthy issues and provided the overall neighbourhood are valued, direction and vision for the plan. promoted, and shared. This concept is designed to recognize Plan Need: the unique assets that exist in the neighbourhood today and to build Intensification of major medical upon these strengths. The institutions and health research following Healthy facilities in the vicinity of the Neighbourhood information was Health Sciences Centre and the taken from Canada Mortgage and Virology Lab coupled with Pedestrian Oriented Housing Corporation’s features of development of Red River A healthy neighbourhood is a Sustainable Neighbourhoods. College Downtown Campus place where shopping, schools, adjacent to the University of recreation, and public transit are Winnipeg Continuing Education Healthy Neighbourhood available within a short walk from Bannatyne Campus has led to Streets home so you don’t have to use A healthy neighbourhood is a demand for scarce land and your car every time you go out. place where streets are for people, resources to support the growth Boulevard trees also make it a not just for cars. The human scale needs of these institutions. pleasant place to walk. By living of the streets and slow speed of Located within the heart of the close to work, you can get there the cars make them comfortable, neighbourhoods of West easily by bus, foot, bike, or a safe and pleasant places to walk. Alexander and Centennial, these page 3 West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan short car ride. This means Goals: spending less time in traffic. The goal of the plan is to build on the strengths that exist today and Affordability to establish policies which seek to A healthy neighbourhood is a improve on the identified place where you can find a home challenges in the neighbourhoods, that meets your needs at a price or in order to foster a healthier, more rent that you can afford. There are sustainable community that will: a variety of housing choices Support and encourage the (cid:139) ranging from apartments to growth and development of condos to townhomes, duplexes the local institutions; and semi- or single-detached 7. A desirable location adjacent Protect and enhance the houses. It’s the sort of place you (cid:139) to downtown and quality of the residential can stay in throughout life’s institutions; neighbourhoods; changes. As your age, family 8. Strong access to public Maintain a balance of situation, abilities and income (cid:139) transit; complementary land uses; change, you can still find a 9. Low land prices help Create and reinforce a well- suitable home in the same (cid:139) facilitate redevelopment designed, liveable, integrated neighbourhood, where you have potential of the area. community; put down roots. Encourage building design, (cid:139) At the same time, the following site layouts, and urban design Strong businesses & institutions challenges have been identified: features which promote A healthy neighbourhood is a safety, accessibility and place where businesses and Health and Safety contribute to the uniqueness institutions thrive today and have 1. Crime is high or perception of the community; an opportunity to grow and of crime is high; Promote affordable and (cid:139) prosper in the future. It is a place 2. Concentration of uses which varied housing choices. where a wide variety of have spillover impacts into employment opportunities are the community (bathhouses, Community Assets and available and where new beer vendors); opportunities are continually Challenges: presenting themselves. Land Use The general land use of West Alexander & Centennial is 3. There are pressures to Vision: comprised of several key factors, expand the HSC into The ambition of this Plan is to tie all of which are considered assets existing residential areas; together the important role of the by the stakeholder committee: 4. Land uses are expanding in neighbourhood institutions with 1. A pedestrian oriented scale an ad hoc manner; the values of neighbourhood and design of the area; 5. Lack of services (such as health and sustainability to forge a 2. A diversity of land uses, banks); new, positive vision for the housing types, and community, which is captured in population; Transportation the proposed new designation for 3. World class institutions; 6. High volumes of primarily the area - the City of Winnipeg’s 4. Availability of local regional traffic through the Health and Wellness District. services; neighbourhood heighten the 5. The presence of numerous feeling that the area is just buildings of heritage and for passing through; architectural importance; 7. Parking pressures from land 6. Affordable housing; uses; page 4 West Alexander & Centennial Neighbourhood Plan 8. Construction and detours; Plan Formulation 9. Need more traffic controls Process/Public Input: (HSC, Notre Dame & Gertie, Notre Dame & Ellen, The formulation and development Pacific, Ross, & Alexander, of the West Alexander & back lanes); Centennial Neighbourhood Plan 10. Infrastructure upgrade to have involved a multi-step, provide for better pedestrian thorough, and inclusive planning accessibility; process. These steps have included: Housing Stakeholder group (cid:139) 11. Houses declining/ consultations; this has abandoned/ demolished; included numerous meetings 12. Derelict houses foster illicit of the stakeholder group over activities; a period of three years, 13. Difficulty in obtaining starting in 2005; property insurance and (cid:139) Meetings with community mortgages in the representatives; neighbourhood (“red (cid:139) Background study lining”); preparation; 14. Manitoba Housing concerns; (cid:139) Draft Neighbourhood Plan 15. Low home ownership rates; preparation; 16. Slum landlords not properly (cid:139) Public feedback maintaining properties; opportunities—including five public open houses; and Other (cid:139) Final Neighbourhood Plan adoption, in accordance with 17. Poor by-law enforcement; the public hearing process 18. Low property values outlined in Section 234 of discourage investment in The City of Winnipeg properties; Charter. These meetings 19. Land speculators in the area. include: (cid:130) A public hearing before the Time Frame: Lord Selkirk-West The plan is future-oriented and Kildonan Community depicts how development and Committee; redevelopment are to occur over (cid:130) Review and an extended time period through recommendation by the private and public sector projects. Standing Policy Committee Due to the complexity of land use on Planning, Property, and and market issues, and the pace of Development; development and redevelopment (cid:130) Review and in West Alexander and recommendation by the Centennial, the plan has a time Executive Policy frame of twenty (20) years. Committee; and, (cid:130) Review and by-law approval by City Council. page 5