| Ladco Company Limited 200-40 Lakewood Boulevard, Winnipeg Manitoba R2J 2M6 Telephone (204) 982-5900 Fax (204) 255-3652 November 26, 2002 Royalwood Residents Dear Sirs & Mesdames: I am writing to tell you about our plan for the second phase of Royalwood and the opportunities that you will have to express your opinions and voice your concerns. As you know, the first phase is virtually complete � most of the house building will be completed next year. We have submitted an application for the second phase which will be one of the most beautiful and spectacular subdivisions in the Province. It will create hundreds of jobs and at the same time will preserve a vast urban forest. We will develop 800 homes, create two lakes featuring �wetland� areas that will incorporate indigenous vegetation and provide additional habitat areas for wildlife, and construct a small river crossing for local access at Southglen Boulevard. I am attaching a conceptual plan for your reference. The application for this development is under debate. Since its approval affects you and your neighbourhood, we want you to be aware of the two major issues. 1. Preservation of the Treestand Areas: Since the mid 1980�s we have worked to preserve the forest (back in the early 1990�s we opposed plans for the crossings at Woodydell and Novavista � in other words, right through the heart of the forest). After 3 years of negotiation we have worked out a plan with the City that will ensure that 75 to 88.5 acres (84% to 98.6%) of the forest will be preserved. The total area will depend on the success of certain fundraising efforts � in addition to the 75 acres of category I and II vegetation that the City will definitely acquire and preserve, the City will also match any money raised to purchase the remaining Category III (13.5 acres) vegetation (the City Forester has conducted a survey and ranked the different areas). (Bold and Italics mine) We understand that the fundraising efforts are going quite well and we expect that we will preserve the entire 88.5 acres. -2- 2. Crossing at Southglen Boulevard: Back in the mid 1980�s the City�s Department of Streets and Transportation directed us to acquire the land at Southglen on the west side of the Seine for a crossing. The Riel Community Committee held a number of Open Houses in 1990 and 1991 and adopted a Concept Plan that contemplates a major bridge at Warde Avenue and a small crossing for local access at Southglen or some other location. In 1995, the Department confirmed the need for a crossing at Southglen and indicated that our plan was acceptable. The proposed crossing will be an aesthetically pleasing two lane structure designed to carry low speed (50km/hr) local residential traffic in and out of the subdivision. Daily and peak traffic loads will be very low. The crossing will be a pier design with ten feet of clearance for canoeists, wildlife and pedestrians. The Save Our Seine (SOS) group is opposed to this crossing. They claim that the crossing: is a waste of taxpayer�s money; will �bisect� and �destroy� the forest; will interfere with �connectivity�; will cause traffic problems; and that the City should build a crossing at Warde instead. We do not agree: - the developer (not the taxpayer) will build and pay for the crossing at Southglen: -as mentioned, 75 to 88.5 (of the 89.75) acres will be preserved - we will clear a total of 1.25 acres for the crossing (most of it is Category II vegetation); - the crossing will not �bisect� the forest - 92% lies to the north; - no one has presented any evidence that the crossing will interfere with �connectivity�. Note that the crossing will have 10 feet of clearance; the crossing will not create traffic problems. In fact, the crossing will help to ensure that Shorehill/Royalwood does not become a busy �shortcut� (like Lakewood Blvd) for motorists traveling from Lagimodiere/St. Anne�s to Southdale/Island Lakes and St. Boniface; and - a bridge will ultimately be required at Warde but not in the near future and not for our development. Warde will be a 4-lane, double divided highway not unlike Bishop Grandin designed to move high volumes of high speed (80km/hr) traffic from Lagimodiere to St. Anne�s. The bridge at Warde and the crossing at Southglen are neither mutually exclusive nor is one redundant � they will serve completely different functions. In any case, our road layout will be designed to discourage traffic from travelling through Royalwood. The SOS group claims that the proposed crossing will have a serious impact on the river habitat. Our professional consultants do not agree. -3- Our plan will have a minimal effect upon the environment. However, we are very concerned about a plan prepared by Gaboury Prefontaine Perry (GPP) for the SOS (2001) that contemplates: an extensive asphalt walkway (2.2 acres); additional nature pathways; an Interpretive Center (themed inn for overnight visitors: a coffee shop and bakery: classrooms; gift shop; skate, ski bike and canoe rentals; temporary tents; and washrooms) with one possible location south of John Bruce Road, east of the river, right in the forest, Riel Interpretive Site located west of the river; 3 picnic areas; �canoe in� overnight camping; 5 docks for canoeing; and a launching area. The plan projects that the park will attract 120.000 visitors each year. We are concerned about the effect that GPP plan would have on the river habitat and your community. Where will the people park (along the streets)? Who will clean up the garbage/police the campground/park? Who will pay for this vision (which carries a budget of $9 million but apparently with insufficient parking)? (Italics mine) What can you do? This is an important issue for Royalwood � it is important that you make your views known to our civic leaders: - Drop in at the Open House on Wednesday, November 27th at Morrow gospel Church at 755 St. Anne�s Rd. from 4:00 to 8:00 PM where Earth Tech will present its preliminary findings (Earth Tech was retained by the City to study the impact of the crossing and provide a �second opinion.�). Tomorrow Night! - Call or e-mail your City Councillor. Riel Ward: Daniel Vandal � 986-5206 and [email protected] St. Vital: Gord Steeves � 986-5088 and [email protected] St. Norbert: John Angus � 986-6824 and [email protected] - Attend the Public Hearing on Tuesday December 17th at Prendergast Center at 906 Cottonwood. The hearing begins at 5:00 but you should come even if you will arrive late. Be sure to register at the door. In addition, I invite you to call me with any questions or concerns you may have. Yours truly, LADCO COMPANY LIMITED Per: (signature) Alan A. Borger President AAB/br -4- Royalwood Phase II An initiative by the Province of Manitoba and Ladco Company Limited �We are attempting to preserve 88 of the 89 acres of natural forest area � a vast urban forest in the city of Winnipeg.� Total Area 485 A Phase II 305 A Plan Winnipeg Designation Neighbourhood Municipal Services Available (map) PLAN FOR PHASE II Flood Plain 32.90 A Park 9.97 A Net Dedication 7.70 A Treestand Area 37.93 A Total Preserved 88.50 A Forest Preserved 98.62% Wetland Area 13.66 A Total Housing 1,473 units Phase II >800 units Construction Activity $300 million Phase II $174 million Property Taxes $7.3 million Phase II $4.1 million Employment 4,120 person years Phase II 2,270 person years Royalwood Your Community Grandin Park Development Limited 200-40 Lakewood Boulevard, Winnipeg Manitoba R2J 2M6 Telephone (204) 982-5900 Fax (204) 255-3652 |