Protect the Seine River Greenway and Our Green Spaces: Attend the City of Winnipeg Open Houses for the Housing Accelerator Fund for Fourplexes.
Save Our Seine River and Environment Inc (SOS), in partnership with OURS-Winnipeg, is urging all residents to attend the City of Winnipeg’s open houses regarding the Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF) for fourplexes, now scheduled for spring 2025 (dates TBA). The open houses are a precursor to public hearings now scheduled for June 2025 unless altered by an election. These open houses are critical for ensuring sustainable development that protects our waterways, trees, and green spaces.
Why Attend?
These open houses provide an opportunity for residents to directly engage with city planners, ask questions about potential impacts on the Seine River Greenway and other natural areas, and provide recommendations. Public input is a key factor in shaping city policies.
Key Concerns About the HAF Fourplex Bylaw
The proposed bylaw would rezone many areas of the city to allow fourplexes on standard lots “as of right,” meaning no public hearings would be required. Of particular concern:
Natural Areas on Riverfront Properties at Risk: River-adjacent lots, such as those along the Seine River, will become highly desirable for intensive development.
Limited Space for Greenery: Dense housing will often leave little room for trees or natural landscapes, exacerbating urban heat and reducing biodiversity.
Implications for the Seine River Greenway
The Seine River Greenway, one of Winnipeg’s most cherished natural corridors, is particularly vulnerable under the proposed HAF bylaw through the following stressors:
Loss of Vegetation - Development along the Seine River could lead to the removal of trees and vegetation that currently buffer the river, provide wildlife habitat, and improve water quality;
Threats to Wildlife: The Greenway is a critical corridor for birds, aquatic species, and other wildlife. Increased housing density near the river may fragment these habitats;
Erosion and Flood Risks: Without proper safeguards, development could destabilize riverbanks, increasing erosion and flooding risks; and
Loss of Future Parkland: Current small homes surrounded by vegetation might be replaced with denser housing, eliminating any opportunity for these areas to become parks or conservation zones in the future.
Lessons from the Malls and Corridors Housing Accelerator Fund
The already approved Malls and Corridors HAF allowed high-density developments near waterways, with no public input. This led to approvals for developments that can harm river ecosystems. It is critical to ensure the same does not happen with the fourplex bylaw.
Save Our Seine and OURS-Winnipeg’s Recommendations
Save Our Seine and OURS-Winnipeg advocate for sustainable development that protects waterways and natural spaces. Key priorities include:
Creating a Buffer Zone for Waterways: Establish buffer zones along waterways as per the City of Winnipeg Best Practices Handbook for Activities In and Around the City’s Waterways and Watercourses (2005).
Preserving the Seine River Greenway: Adopt the City of Winnipeg’s Ecologically Sensitive Natural Lands Strategy (ESNL) to prioritize the conservation of riverbanks, floodplains, and terraces for their ecological, aesthetic, and recreational value.
Other relevant environmental priorities worth advocating for are:
Completion and approval of the Master Greenspace and Natural Corridors Bylaw and Biodiversity Policy before approving new development bylaws.
Speed up approval and implementation of the City of Winnipeg’s Tree Protection Bylaw.
What Can You Do?
Attend the Open Houses: Share your concerns and advocate for the protection of the Seine River Greenway. Be sure to inquire and ask for answers about what the intentions are for protecting lands along and adjacent to the urban Seine River. Express a strong desire to have these lands protected from high-density development.
Keep up-to-date by following the Save Our Seine and OURS-Winnipeg websites. Once dates for the Open Houses have been determined, it will be announced on the Save Our Seine website.
Resources
City of Winnipeg Best Practices Handbook for Activities In and Around the City’s Waterways and Watercourses (City of Winnipeg 2005) | |
Ecologically Sensitive Natural Lands Strategy (City of Winnipeg 2007) | |
Manitoba’s Water Management Strategy (Province of Manitoba 2022) | |
Save Our Seine Website | |
OURS-Winnipeg Website | |
City of Winnipeg Housing Accelerator Fund |
Your Voice Matters
The Seine River Greenway and other natural spaces need your voice. Participate early in the process at the open houses to ensure Winnipeg’s development prioritizes environmental protection and sustainable growth. Together we can safeguard our waterways and green spaces for future generations.
For updates and ways to get involved, visit Save Our Seine and OURS-Winnipeg.
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