A proposed expansion of housing options in Landmark East is highlighting a growing need in the Rural Municipality of Taché to balance accommodating the demand for more housing while ensuring new development fits with existing neighbourhoods and municipal infrastructure.
Schinkel Properties Holdings Inc. and Kleefeld Development Ltd. have applied to revise the lot layout previously approved for the east portion of Landmark East.
The proposal would introduce additional multi-unit and two-unit housing, along with smaller lots for single-family homes.
A public hearing on the application was held Aug. 25 by the RM of Taché. The application also includes a variance request to reduce the minimum site area and site width for a number of proposed narrow single-family lots.
The proposal has received support from some groups that say a greater range of housing options is needed in the growing community.
The Taché Community Development Corporation said it supports incorporating seniors housing and affordable housing into Landmark, citing the municipality’s Housing Needs Assessment and Action Plan.
That assessment identified additional seniors housing, attainable housing and housing opportunities for young families as community needs, according to the corporation.
The CDC said more seniors housing could allow residents to remain in the community and close to family, services and amenities as they age. It also said affordable housing could help support population growth, workforce retention, schools and local businesses.
Citizen-led Strong Towns Steinbach has also expressed support, saying greater housing density and a wider variety of housing types could create more home ownership and rental opportunities for young families while providing options for seniors who want to age in place.
But the proposal has also drawn opposition from residents living near the proposed changes.
Residents have said they understand the need for additional housing but question whether higher-density development is appropriate in an area that was recently developed primarily with larger single-family homes.
They said homeowners purchased properties based in part on expectations about the neighbourhood’s character, density and scale under the existing development plan.
Kim and Scott Kuz, who live on Sandpiper Trail, said they chose to build their home in Landmark East partly because of their understanding of how the surrounding properties would be developed.
They said the introduction of multi-unit housing beside their property could affect privacy and lead to increased traffic, parking pressures and noise.
Other residents have raised concerns about congestion, construction traffic, on-street parking, drainage, water capacity, roads, stormwater management, utilities, waste collection and other infrastructure.
The residents’ objection letter also questioned whether the community’s existing water treatment facility has sufficient capacity for additional growth.
Child-care and school capacity were among other concerns raised by residents.
RM of Tache Mayor Armand Poirier said the concerns surrounding Landmark East reflect a larger issue facing Tache as the municipality continues to grow.
“Development is always good,” Poirier said. “Having said that, though, it’s balanced and responsible development because we have to ensure that our infrastructure and our services keep up with the growth.”
“If we don’t do that, then you don’t end up with a good community. It’s mayhem.”
Poirier said council’s role is to represent residents while weighing the various considerations that come with development decisions.
“At the end of the day, we’re all sitting here or in our positions as mayor and council to represent the people,” he said.
“It’s their municipality. We were elected to run it or to make the decisions on how we want it run, but their voice is extremely important and their input, of course.”
He said public input is particularly important when residents have concerns about a proposed development, although council members sometimes have to make decisions based on information or considerations that may not be apparent to the broader public.
“Sometimes the public doesn’t see all the pertinent issues,” Poirier said. “And you still have to forge ahead with certain decisions that aren’t popular, but nevertheless, at the end of the day, it’s very important to hear what the public has to say.”
The Landmark East discussion comes as Tache continues to grow and invest in community infrastructure. A new $30-million community centre combining an arena, library and seniors centre is under construction, with the municipality expecting to receive the keys in January 2027. Poirier said the project and other community services are part of maintaining Tache’s quality of life as the municipality attracts young families, newcomers and residents seeking a more rural lifestyle close to Winnipeg.
He said that growth also brings changing housing needs, including increased demand for secondary suites and multigenerational living arrangements. But as the municipality grows, Poirier said infrastructure and services must keep pace.
“We have to do it, but we have to do it responsibly so that we can maintain our quality of life here,” he said.
