'We are not here for tree preservation': Development company appealing latest decision with Lemay Forest
A new fight is gearing up at city hall over Lemay Forest.
The owner of the property wants to demolish a house it owns on Lemay Avenue to gain access to the land for a future development, as there are no roads in or out of the forest.
However, the city said no, prompting an appeal. This comes as many in the community are petitioning to buy the forest and preserve it.
"That just makes the land completely null and void," said John Wintrup, a planner that represents Tochal Developments.
Tochal is planning an assisted living facility with 5,000 beds and 5,000 parking spots. Removing the house – which they want to do without a building permit – would allow them to do prep work on the land.
"We are not here for tree preservation, we are not here for public parks. We are going to do something with those lands."
City planners panned that move, saying the demolition application is premature, as it's not clear how long the lot would be vacant because the larger development plans have not been approved.
"Vacant lots are often a characteristic of 'urban blight' due to their potential to become 'eye sores' over time," the Planning, Property and Development department said in a statement to CTV News.
All of this come after an unsuccessful attempt by city councillors, the Manitoba Metis Federation, and Green Advocates to put an offer together to buy the land from Tochal to preserve the forest and stop development.
"It would basically destroy the neighbourhood that we have here," said Ashley Langridge, who is a neighbour to the house in question.
Tochal has appealed the decision denying the demolition.
"In the back of my mind I'm always thinking, 'Yes this is a chance or opportunity to frustrate our process' so that they can preserve trees and create a park here, by sterilizing our lands and driving down the value of it," said Wintrup.
The appeal hearing over the demolition is set for April 30 at the Riel Committee meeting.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Russia puts Ukrainian President Zelenskyy on its wanted list
Russia has put Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on its wanted list, Russian state media reported Saturday, citing the interior ministry’s database.
No proof man lied to brother about number of kittens born in litter, B.C. tribunal rules
A man was denied a $5,000 payout from his brother after a B.C. tribunal dismissed his claim disputing how many kittens were born in a litter.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
'I just can't believe that it took so long': Body found in wreckage 3 months after deadly fire
A man accused of arson in a January Old Strathcona apartment fire is expected to be charged with manslaughter after a body was discovered in the burned building late last month.
Two killed after collision with truck on Hwy. 417 near Limoges, Ont.
Ontario Provincial Police say two people were killed after a car and a transport truck collided in the westbound lanes of Highway 417 near Limoges, Ont. on Tuesday afternoon.
Quebec man who threatened Trudeau, Legault online sentenced to 20 months in jail
A Quebec man who pleaded guilty to threatening Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Premier François Legault has been sentenced to 20 months in jail.
A candidate for Germany's key party was beaten up while campaigning for European elections
A candidate for Chancellor Olaf Scholz's center-left party in next month's election for the European Parliament was beaten up and seriously injured while campaigning in an eastern city, the party said Saturday.
Explosion at train station leads to discovery of stolen car on Montreal's South Shore: police
Police are investigating after a BMW exploded in the St-Lambert Exo train station parking lot on Montreal's South Shore.
The pros and cons of discussing mental health issues in the workplace
A group of lawyers has written what they call a groundbreaking book about how mental health is perceived in the legal profession.