The RM of Ritchot’s council met in the evening of July 17. The regular meeting began at 5:30 p.m., during which the bulk of the agenda was covered, which was followed by a short break that led to a focused public hearing at 7:00 p.m. The later public hearing was comprised of two conditional use applications.
Conditional Use Applications
The first application was from Stellar Capital Inc. for a permit to allow a series of multifamily housing units in the northwest corner of the newly rezoned portion of the Tourond Creek development in St. Adolphe.
The proposal included a mix of townhouses and apartment rental units. A few residents were present to voice objections to the proposal.
The second application came from North Grassie Property, who requested a conditional use permit for a condominium development which would serve as aging-in-place housing in Grand Pointe Meadows. Council heard no objections to the proposal.
In both cases, council voted in favour of the applications.
Subdivision Requests
Council also heard several property subdivision requests. The first came from Deer Ridge Developments Ltd., requesting a permit to subdivide 36 acres of land off Hallama Drive in Grande Pointe in order to create 15 residential lots, a public reserve, and two public roads.
CAO Mitch Duval recommended to council that one condition of their approval should include a public hearing in the near future regarding the opening of the proposed public roads.
Another recommendation by Duval was to include in the development agreement a condition proposed by Manitoba Sport, Culture, and Heritage which would require the developer, at their own expense, to conduct a heritage resource impact assessment prior to starting the project.
According to that government agency, the Seine River, directly adjacent to the property, is an ancient waterway used by past peoples. As well, an archaeological site is located within one kilometre of the property, and that site includes a historic trail which has the potential for heritage resources to be present.
Council voted in favour of the request, including these recommendations made by Duval.
Another request came from the Wallace brothers, who wish to subdivide their family homestead from the rest of their farmland just west of Niverville. Once subdivided, the balance of their farmland would add up to 98 acres.
Duval suggested that council consider including a development agreement which would restrict the use of the remaining farmland for agricultural use only. This would prevent the agricultural land from becoming a pocket residential development down the road. Council discussed the recommendation at length and determined that such a policy should be created in the future. In the meantime, council voted in favour of the subdivision request.
Finally, council heard a request from Grant Dyck of Artel Farms, who made two subdivision requests. Dyck wishes to subdivide approximately three acres of land from his farmland on two separate locations along Highway 200. Council approved those requests as well.
Business Incentive Grants
Since council has put a hold on hiring a new Economic Development Officer for the time being, it was decided that $25,000 of the funds set aside in the budget for the salary of such an employee be used by the Community Development Corporation (CDC) to provide a funds-matching grant to Main Street businesses for the enhancement of their properties.
Grants of up to $5,000 will be provided. Applications will be available through the CDC.
Finally, council approved the first reading of a Business Incentive bylaw which will be created to encourage new business start-ups in the municipality as well as the expansion of existing businesses which add value to their commercial property value assessment.
Duval reviewed the details of the plan, which included tax breaks for one to five years, depending on the valuation of the business. In the first year, all applicants would be refunded 100 percent of their property taxes. In the following years, if the business is eligible, the tax break would be reduced incrementally.
Home-based businesses or applicants who rent or lease will not qualify for the grant.
“It’s a great way to initiate business in Ritchot to get commercial development going,” said Mayor Chris Ewen. “It may not be a lot, but every dollar helps in your first five years of business. I really think this is something that will boost the industrial parks… I’m excited to start launching our marketing for this.”
Other News
Two municipal bylaws were reviewed, with council adding clarity to the wording of each one. Those included the Unsightly Premises and Derelict Vehicles bylaw and the Provincial Offences Act Implementation. Duval recommended that complaints from one resident against another shouldn’t be accepted if made anonymously. Council voted in favour of the first reading of both bylaws.
Council also approved the installation of a ten-inch pipe to help improve water services in the municipality as opposed to the booster station which had originally been proposed by engineers. After a prior meeting with an engineer of the Water Services Branch, council deemed it important to proceed with a portion of the pipe in order to gain a limited-time grant from the provincial government’s Small Communities Fund.
Also approved was a tender from Bituminex for the asphalting and curbing of Bourret Avenue in Ste. Agathe as well as Perron Avenue and Gagnon Drive in St. Adolphe.