EPC narrowly denies Crescentwood condo project

City council's executive policy committee narrowly rejected a Crescentwood condo project that the developer has attempted to portray as ideal infill.

The executive policy committee voted 4-3 Wednesday to deny Ventura Developments the opportunity to build a four-storey, 12-unit condo building on vacant land at the southeast corner of Harrow Street and McMillan Avenue.

City planners supportthe project, but both council's city centre community committee and the property and development committee denied the project.

At EPC, Mayor Brian Bowman chided Ventura vice-president Tim Comack for attempting to lobby councillorsto vote in favour ofhis project, but supported the condos nonetheless. So did councillorsMarty Morantz (Charleswood-Tuxedo) and Scott Gillingham (St. James-Brooklands).

AreacouncillorJohnOrlikow(River Heights-Fort Garry) and councillorsBrian Mayes (St. Vital), Cindy Gilroy (Daniel McIntyre) and Mike Pagtakhan (Point Douglas) opposed the project.

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Orlikow, who also lives two blocks from the proposed development, decried what he called an aggressive lobbying effort after the city centre community committee initially denied the project in November.

"Peopleshouldnotbe lobbying us," saidOrlikow, accusingComackof attempting to subvert the democratic process by taking out newspaper ads and convincing commentators in the media to opine in his favour.

"I won't be intimidated by [people]sayingyou'reNIMBYif you don't approve this," Orlikow said. "I'm not intimidated. People can call me what they want."

Orlikow said the proposed development is too much for the neighbourhood and is better suited to a denser neighbourhood, such as Osborne Village.

The project now moves on to council on Dec. 14.