Councillor hopes compromise quells corridor controversy

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This article was published 12/12/2017 (2324 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A compromise solution to quell outrage over the controversial south Charleswood east-west corridor was passed unanimously by Winnipeg city council Wednesday.

Area Coun. Marty Morantz, also chairman of the public works committee overseeing the project, said the compromise reached with residents in late November restores a proper planning process for the south Charleswood area.

“This episode has been a lesson in how not to plan,” Morantz said.

The Morantz compromise allows consideration of all existing studies on alternative routes, but obligates city hall to consider concerns of area residents and the character of their neighbourhoods in the final selection.

The idea was supported by the area residents.

David Ames, president of the South Wilkes Community Association, earlier urged council to approve the motion to protect the interest of the south Charleswood residents and to ensure proper consultation and planning is conducted going forward.

City hall had been studying a southward extension of the William R. Clement Parkway and options for an east-west corridor linking Clement to Kenaston Boulevard, part of the city’s long-term plan to complete the inner-ring road network.

City staff and a consulting firm presented three options for an east-west route to area residents in January 2016, where the residents overwhelming favoured the Wilkes widening. However, the consulting firm, with the apparent approval of public work department staff, submitted a new route – the southwest extension of the Sterling Lyon Parkway, which would have involved the expropriation of almost 100 properties – to the province in July 2017.

Area residents only learned of the new route at special meetings in October, which prompted them to form a community group and lobby city hall against the new plan, which was repeatedly referred to as the “rogue” route.

Morantz claimed no knowledge of the “rogue” route and sided with the residents.

Former city councillor Garth Steek, who has spoken in support of the residents before, said a full explanation of who was involved in the decision-making has not disclosed despite repeated assurances by Mayor Brian Bowman, Morantz and City of Winnipeg chief administrative officer Doug McNeil.

“It’s absolutely astonishing to think the bullying of the bureaucracy resulted in this scenario,” Steek said. “Have the courage to stand up and hold the bureaucrats accountable for what happened on this file.

“You don’t know who authorized this, you don’t know when they authorized it, you don’t know why they authorized it,” Steek said. “This thing is scandalous. You have to have a public inquiry. We will never know the truth on this file, Mr. Mayor, without it.”

aldo.santin@freepress.mb.ca