Niverville’s town council convened for a lively public meeting on July 15. Council approved two rezoning requests which have the potential to further residential growth and even make way for a new school if the province deems one necessary.

As well, three new businesses were approved to open.

Rezonings

The first rezoning request came from developer Stefan Hodelmann of Avedo Inc., seeking to change 2465 Krahn Road from agricultural limited to residential high-density zoning.

The property is located in the southwest area of town. Hodelmann described the lot as a farmstead with some partially deconstructed buildings on it.

“We had a number of different plans, including some larger residential lots, but the feasibility of such a development was prohibitive,” said Hodelmann.

At this stage, the goal is for a three-storey building which will include an underground parkade and cater to the senior citizen demographic.

 “Overall, I think the location, being on a collector street, makes it quite interesting for higher-density,” he says. “I think this proposal, just in development fees alone, would bring to the town around $2 million, plus it would add contributions to some of the infrastructure improvements [in terms of] sewer, water, and potential paving of the area.”

Infrastructure easements granted by council at this meeting would, in turn, benefit developers in nearby neighbourhoods.

Mayor Myron Dyck clarified, for those gathered, that this public hearing was strictly in regard to the zoning. The matter of subdivisions and site plans are future concerns.

CAO Eric King reaffirmed that early planning on this section of land will aid the town and other developers in their long-term planning goals.

A second rezoning request was reviewed for the Highlands West, which is owned by Len Peters of Sunset Estates. He requested that a portion of land in the same general area be rezoned from agricultural limited to education and institutional.

“Obviously there’s something in play, but will it materialize?” Dyck remarked with a shrug of uncertainty.

Following the meeting, King responded to several questions, suggesting that many new developments will be required to allow space for a potential school down the road.

King says that new residential growth taking place on the west side of town will eventually warrant a fourth school, at which time, if approved, this section would be available.

Mayor Dyck further pointed out that these decisions are always initiated by the province, not the town or developer.

Council voted unanimously in favour of both rezoning requests.

New Businesses

The first request for a new business came from the owner of Diana’s Gourmet Pizzeria. The request: to open a bakery and licensed eating and drinking establishment at 349 Bronstone Drive on the east side of town.

The applicant was not in attendance to answer questions, leaving council to wonder about certain aspects of the business plan, including the intent to introduce an outdoor patio on what is currently an unpaved parking lot next to an unpaved service street.

According to the application, the owner currently operates a wood-fired pizza restaurant in Winnipeg and hopes to provide breakfast, lunch, and supper at their Niverville establishment.

The next applicant, Cazden Harder, was on hand to discuss his plans to develop a used vehicle dealership at 615 Wittick Street in the industrial park.

 Harder’s long-term plan is to add an automotive repair and maintenance shop at the same location.

“I previously worked in Steinbach with my own car dealership,” Harder told council. “I’m just looking to move to Niverville because you are a growing community and closer to the city where most of my clients come from.”

Harder assured council that his vehicle count would be limited to a maximum of 20 vehicles at any given time. Eventually, he said, he hopes to hire one or two Red Seal technicians to handle repairs.

Finally, the proprietor of MaxxPro Properties Inc received the green light from council to open a contractor’s yard with office and warehouse space at 758 Schultz Avenue, which is also in the industrial park. 

Other Business

Thanks in part to a $75,000 grant from the province, the Station Lands Historical Well Park located just west of the tracks is ready to officially open. On Friday, July 18, Mayor Dyck and other council members will be on site to perform a ribbon-cutting at 1:00 p.m.

Community representatives integral to the park’s establishment will also be present. An invitation has been extended to the Minister of Municipal Affairs.

The following Tuesday, July 22, Dyck and council will entertain invited guests from a particular hotel chain to tour the community in the hopes of encouraging commercial hotel business here.

“These people are flying in from out of province,” Dyck said. “Council plans to spend a few hours with them and then, hopefully, they’ll want to set up shop here.”

He confirmed that these businesspeople are not affiliated with the Blue Crescent owners who currently own land along Drovers Run.

“They’ve done business in Manitoba before,” said Dyck of the guests. “We’ve gone for two years now to the restaurant/hotel convention in Winnipeg and this is a direct contact from having been there. Will anything materialize out of it? I don’t know. But that’s the one thing we are actively pursuing as council.”