The RM of Portage la Prairie council meeting today gave first and second reading to an application requesting rezoning of some land near McCabe Drive and Bridge Road. Land was requested for rezoning from agricultural to rural to allow for housing development to take place. Reeve Kam Blight says council voted 5-3 in favour of the rezoning.

"It was a very tight vote, and there's a lot of discussion about it all. Residents came to voice their concerns about development taking place close to where they're living. It'll change the views and landscapes and the number of vehicles, etc., and the traffic in that area. So, that's a concern for them. They bought their property with a nice, open backyard to the south, and that could be potentially changing."

Councilors who voted in favour noted they want the RM to grow, and some of those who voted against noted they would not want to see homes built behind their dwellings if they moved there for the reason of there being no further homes later. Blight notes drainage was also a concern for current residents.

"It's a very fine line. It's very difficult. We want to the municipality grow. More residents enjoy the country living but by the same token, we don't want to negatively impact the people that already have their places and homes set up. So, it's something we have to take into consideration and council takes very seriously. We have to weigh out all the information being presented to us. And ultimately we have to make a decision based upon what's best for the RM of Portage la Prairie. I think right now it's been left, and the RM of Portage la Prairie's going to enter into a predevelopment agreement with the developer. I think there is going to be certain issues and conditions put in place that hopefully both parties will agree to, and then proceed to third reading and see where it goes from there."

Marcel and Mary-Jo CoolApplicants Marcel and Mary-Jo Cool say they don't see a concern.

Mary-Jo notes, "It's only going to be two homes. I don't know why it would interfere with anything. We're not doing anything other than just building a house and living in it. There's only two of us."

Her husband Marcel says, "They have half-acre lots, I think, and these are going to be 2.77 acres. And we're going to build a house and live in it. And then eventually we'll sell that one and build a house on the next lot. So, we're just not building and selling them. We're going to be living there. It's only two houses because you have to have two-acre lots to have a septic field."

When asked if other residents' concerns are valid in fearing future purchasers subdividing the lots and building more houses, Cool responds, "We subdivide it into two lots, and once you build on it, you're not going to subdivide it again. Once that's done I don't think you're going to be able to subdivide it."

Cool admits drainage is a problem there.

"Hopefully we do get some better drainage. They needed it. We've discussed that with the RM already. That was our concern, too."

Residents opposing rezoning applicationThose in attendance who protested the rezoning noted to council some landfill was already placed in the empty lots, raising the ground level about six inches higher, and it will cause further drainage problems than what is already present. 

Residents who protested the rezoning declined to provide an interview.

Third reading will take place at a later council meeting, and the public can't respond or voice their opinioon, seeing as the public hearing's closed on the issue, but can attend to learn the results.

Council votes 5-3 in favour of rezoning property