City holding public hearings for traffic, housing issues

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This article was published 08/02/2022 (1737 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Brandon residents will soon be able to have their say on a traffic issue and a proposed affordable housing development at a pair of public hearings later this month.

Last year, residents of Linden Lanes expressed concern in a ward meeting about speeding and traffic volumes, especially along Durum Drive.

Those concerns were taken to city council by Coun. Shawn Berry (Linden Lanes), who requested the speed limit on Durum Drive be lowered by 10 kilometres an hour to a new maximum of 40 km/h and for Aberdeen Avenue to be turned into a one-way street so traffic could leave the neighbourhood and relieve pressure but new traffic could not enter.

After a spirited debate, council agreed to lower the speed limit on Durum Drive for one year as a pilot project.

Now the issue of Aberdeen Avenue’s direction will be subject to public feedback at a hearing being held at the Keystone Centre’s MNP Hall at 7 p.m. on Feb. 17.

Speaking to the Sun on Tuesday, Berry stressed the Aberdeen Drive issue will be the only one discussed at the public hearing and expressed hope that people on both sides of the argument would come and offer their thoughts.

“This actually isn’t a new idea,” Berry said. “It was brought to my attention about three years ago. Honestly, the city had no interest at all in considering it, to put it lightly. I want to say I didn’t either at first, but the problem has just gotten worse and worse.”

After posting the notice for the hearing on Facebook, Berry said he had commenters asking why several ideas like the installation of speed bumps and extending Maryland Avenue hadn’t been considered. City administration rejected speed bumps, and for Maryland Avenue the city does not own enough land to build a proper road.

Berry had people both for and against the idea reach out ahead of the meeting.

Everyone wishing to attend the hearing must show proof of vaccination and wear a mask when not speaking.

According to city clerk Heather Ewasiuk, there will be chairs for 60 people set up at the MNP Hall, but more could be added in the case of higher interest.

On Feb. 22, a public hearing related to an affordable housing development at the site of the former Fleming School will be held as part of the regular council meeting starting at 7 p.m.

Last July, the provincial and federal governments announced they were partnering with the city to build two 24-unit buildings at 415 25th St., on the empty field that used to serve the adjacent school building. The school still stands and is in use as the high school for Sioux Valley Dakota Nation.

The original plan as presented when the development was announced stated that the buildings would have 42 two-bedroom units and six three-bedroom units spread across them, with four units on the ground floor built to be accessible for people living with disabilities or mobility issues.

According to a document posted on the city’s website, the plan is now for the development to consist of a single building with the same number of units.

Senior planner Andrew Mok told the Sun on Tuesday that when the formal plan for the development was submitted to the city, it was only for a single building.

Coun. Shaun Cameron (University), whose ward encompasses the area being developed, said Tuesday the public hearing will only respond to the different layout as the project itself received city approval back in 2013.

He said the developer in charge of the project held a public consultation on the matter two or three months ago.

That developer, Kirk Brugger, did not respond to a request for comment Tuesday.

For this hearing, residents must pre-register to participate in person or submit written correspondence to be read out by contacting the city clerk no later than Feb. 17. They can call 204-729-2296 or email h.ewasiuk@brandon.ca.

Cameron said he’s also available to answer constituents’ questions.

More information on this hearing can be obtained by calling the city’s planning department at 204-279-2110 or emailing planning@brandon.ca.

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