City finalizing apartment complex agreement

The City of Dryden is in the process of finalizing an agreement with Bridge Road Developments to develop three separate 24 unit active living apartment buildings, for those aged 55 and older. If the deal goes through, the apartment complex would be built at 310 Van Horne Avenue, just past the Dryden Regional Health Centre.

The development of the complex would occur in stages, with the first apartment building being constructed in 2018. The first floor of each building will accommodate indoor tenant parking. Additional visitor parking will be located in a common outdoor parking area.

Bridge Road Developments has built over 55 Active Living apartments in 25 communities across Manitoba and Saskatchewan, and is also in the process of building The Fairway apartments on 3 Woods Drive in Kenora. 

Council received the report on the apartments at a recent council meeting. Staff say that the agreement is in development, and will be entered into upon completion of sale and the transfer of land. Before the deal can be finalized, the city had a few things to change with Bridge Road Development’s original plan.

Municipal staff including Public Works, the Dryden Fire Service and Building and Planning staff all reviewed the application. The project will include the retention of many of the existing trees on side, and will include the installation of grass and bushes in the common areas. There were no concerns with the landscaping plan.

The city also wanted to make sure that the developer would run its storm water design through the city, to ensure the Wabigoon Drive storm system would not be overwhelmed. It was also identified that the driveway entrance radius needs to tie into the curb line. An existing streetlight would also need to be relocated.

Staff add that the City of Dryden has a site plan control by-law that designates the entire city as a site plan control area. That means that site plan agreements must be reached between the municipality and developers, before construction can begin. The property is owned by the city, and has a closed date of September, 2018, or sooner.