Bridgwater Forest Residential – Former Proposed School Site

October 27, 2021 UPDATE:

Manitoba Housing (the developer) requested an extension of time (additional 2 years) to proceed with the development. For complete details of the subdivision, including the pathway network – SEE Bridgwater Forest Development

Bridgwater Forest was the first phase of development for the Neighbourhoods of Bridgwater. Manitoba Housing originally zoned this property as ‘single family residential’. Around 2008-2009 Pembina Trails School Division (Pembina Trails)  put a ‘hold’ on this property with the intention to build a school. Over time, Pembina Trails decided they did not want this site. I suspect one of the main reasons was the site was too small for the size of school that was needed. The site was still zoned single family, for 33 residential lots.

Due to incredible advocacy by the Bridgwater Forest Neighbourhood Association, Manitoba Housing agreed to develop only 17 lots, protect the forest, enable deeper lots to provide a buffer to surrounding houses, and to build a pathway connecting to the existing pathway network.

The 17 residential lots will retain Residential – Single-Family and the park lot will be rezoned to “PR-1” – Parks and Recreation (Neighbourhood). Thirteen lots will have frontage on a proposed public cul-de-sac. The cul-de-sac will extend southward from Bridgeland Drive North, at a point that is aligned with the current intersection of Bridgeland and Beacham Crescent. The four remaining residential lots are to have frontage directly onto Bridgeland Drive North.

The proposed rezoning of a portion of the subject land to a “PR1-“ – Parks and Recreation (Neighbourhood) zone will accommodate new passive park uses on the subject site, and extend the existing passive park and active transportation (AT)   to Bridgeland Drive, via the proposed new cul-de-sac. It is intended that this area will generally retain its existing nature features, including a number of mature trees.

It’s anticipated that preparation of this site will occur 2022. For further details, see Bridgwater Forest Development or contact:

Dwayne Rewniak, MCIP, RPP

Executive Director, Strategic Initiatives, Housing Delivery & Land Development

Manitoba Housing / Department of Families

Email: Dwayne.Rewniak@gov.mb.ca