New shopping centre in mix

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This article was published 23/05/2013 (4747 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A 50-acre commercial development and separate shopping centre located at the south end of Brandon were identified as future amenities by a Manitoba real estate firm looking to sell a parcel of land near the area.

The developments were revealed by Shindico in a recent sales brochure extolling the virtues of a 133-acre parcel of land in the southeast corner of the city.

Shindico leasing agent Ken Jones refused comment on the commercial developments directly, but did confirm the company is brokering a deal between an out-of-province ownership group that is looking to sell a parcel of land for residential development.

“When we looked at taking on this assignment, we thought it is a great growth area,” Jones said. “Brandon is a city on the rise and there is a high school close by and here looks to be some future commercial retail developments there.”

The school identified in the brochure is Crocus Plains Regional High School, which would be directly across from the new residential subdivision.

In the property details, the brochure states that the land is two kilometres “from a proposed new major retail development — Brandon Hills Shopping Centre.”

The “proposed” shopping centre would be located on the east side of Highway 10, just south of a residential area on Patricia Avenue. A future expansion area is also earmarked to the east of the shopping centre.

Across the highway, the brochure identifies a 50-acre parcel of land as a proposed commercial development.

The Brandon Sun first broke news about the land being sold back in November. The land is viewed by many as prime real estate for a commercial enterprise, fuelling speculation at the time that a major retail chain had expressed interest in establishing a store in Brandon.

The 50-acre parcel is in the RM of Cornwallis. Reeve Reg Atkinson said he is encouraged by the potential economic growth in the area, but he also tempered expectations that a shopping centre will be built in the very near future.

Atkinson said the land hasn’t been zoned as commercial yet, something that would require the RM to change its planning documents to do.

“I’m not saying that it can’t be done, I’m just saying there is still a lot that would need to be done before there is a commercial development there,” Atkinson said.

The RM has been in communication with city officials in regards to the parcel, according to Atkinson, and they’re also willing to speak to potential developers, but not at the risk of fracturing relationships with the City of Brandon or neighbouring RMs.

“We’ll talk to anybody, but we won’t talk to them in any manner to hide things from the City (of Brandon) or (RM of) Elton.”

Atkinson said there could be a deal in the future that would have the City of Brandon annex the land, but it is contingent on the Brandon and Fringe Area Growth Strategy that is due to be released by the city in September.

That document will determine a growth strategy that will provide a planning framework for council to make decision regarding location, timing and type of developments in Brandon.

First and foremost, Atkinson said, his council will take care of the best interests of its ratepayers, but he believes that strategic economic growth doesn’t have to be at odds with that.

“There are a lot of considerations and we have to look after our people that could be affected by it,” Atkinson said.

“(The city and the RMs) need to work together and not try to hold each other up. If it makes more sense to do it one way than the other, then I expect that’s the way we do it.”

When the Sun broke the story of the sale of the land last November, rumours swirled that Costco Wholesale Corporation, more commonly known as Costco, had expressed interest in the area.

At that point in time, Sandy Trudel, the city’s economic development officer, confirmed that city officials had spoken to representatives from the retail giant.

Trudel was not available for comment at press time.

» ctweed@brandonsun.com