Mayor steps in to help Corydon area plan

Winnipeg Mayor Sam Katz has stepped into the debacle over the Corydon Avenue development plan.

Angry business ownerslast weeksucceeded in getting a city committee to scrap the plan, even though ithadn't even been written.

Business owners said they caught wind ofsome details being discussed in the plan. They believedit would assign more regulations to that area than other areas of the city and wouldkill growth on Corydon as a result.

On Monday,Katz pulled together a meeting between a number of stakeholders, includingCoun. Jenny Gerbasi and the councillor who chaired the committee that killed the plan, Jeff Browaty.

Also in attendance was community representative Carla Richmond, local business owner Jerry Cianflone, residential developer Jeff Rabb, the city'schief administrative officer Phil Sheegl and chief operating officer Deepak Joshi.

Katz said a group decision was made tohire an independent consultant to review what has been done so far by city planners, and to help them to move forward with a newarea planwhile taking care to ensure all stakeholders have a voice in the process.

"We all appreciate the distinctive energy and atmosphere this neighbourhood provides," Katz said Tuesday.

"In that sense, the Corydon area belongs to the residents, the businesses who have invested there, and to all of us who enjoy spending time there."

Using an independent consultantis a way to restore the trust in the process, Katz said.

Gerbasi, who backed the original plan and was stunned by the business opposition, said she is pleased with the consultant idea and hopes this movewill finallypush the process forward sothere is aplaneveryone can use.

Katz said he has also asked city administration to review the membership of the Corydon/Osborne Community Planning Advisory Committee to ensure fair representation of all stakeholders in the community, including residents, business, and residential developers.

"As the mayor, my goal is to keep things moving, OK?" he said.

"Look around the city. All you see is progress, and we want the same thing for every part of the city, including Corydon and Osborne."

Katz will introduce the idea in a motion to the executive policy committee on Wednesday.