Council rejects Rec Centre proposal

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This article was published 16/09/2014 (4258 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The Brandon Recreation Centre at the Wheat City Golf Course will not be demolished to make way for new condominiums.

City council rejected a proposal from J & G Homes Ltd. to purchase approximately three acres of land at 3500 McDonald Ave. for $750,000.

“Circumstances and conditions have changed, and I think it’s prudent we reject this particular proposal,” said Coun. Jeff Harwood (University). “I don’t think any of us around the table could have predicted that we were going to have another flood this year, and that has certainly changed some things down at the Rec Centre.”

City administration recommended council approve J & G’s proposal, which was to develop a 57-unit, three-storey residential condominium complex, as well as a new pro shop for the Wheat City Golf Course. But in a unanimous vote on Monday night, council voted to reject the project.

Harwood said with a new Greenspace Master Plan in the works, which includes public consultations, there may be other ideas coming forward that would make better use of the land adjacent to the city’s golf course.

“The reason I’m asking for this proposal to be rejected, there may be merit in having some more public consultation, seeing how this can fit into that Greenspace Master Plan,” Harwood said.

The City of Brandon originally put out a call for expressions of interest for the property during the summer of 2013 for the development of a “high quality commercial/residential mixed use area.”

J & G Homes Ltd. was the only proposal received. The city’s evaluation committee requested further clarification on their proposal and a refined submission was submitted.

Coun. Corey Roberts (Rosser) said “it only seems fair the public has more input on this situation” and says the next council should take on this task.

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