Opponents line up at city council to lambaste Wascana development

A motion opposing further office development in Wascana Park attracted a long line of supporters at Regina City Council on Monday, as one speaker after another blasted the Conexus and Brandt-cnib projects.

The motion, which had not yet been voted on by the time the Leader-post went to press, calls on city council to commit to protecting the park from “future commercial development that is not directly intended to serve the needs of ” park users.

It would also push the Provincial Capital Commission to “urgently” begin a public consultation process “that addresses the future development, stewardship and governance of Wascana Park,” while also directing Mayor Michael Fougere to send a letter making council’s opposition known.

Council chambers were filled to near capacity as discussion got underway, reflecting the significant interest Coun. Bob Hawkins said he’s heard over the motion — which he submitted along with Couns. Lori Bresciani and Andrew Stevens.

Speakers criticized the steps that led to the approval of the 80,000-square-foot Conexus headquarters set to go up as part of a revitalization of the University of Regina’s College Avenue campus. Many were associated with the No Business in the Park group that has led protests over the development.

Several of them said they felt “betrayed.” Lorraine Weidner, one of the group’s leaders, presented a petition with 2,500 signatures opposing the development.

“The public was left out of the decision-making process,” said Weidner. “The public forums that were held were mere windowdressing.”

Rob Humphries, a supporter of the group, asked councillors whether they truly believe the people of Regina would have approved the project in a referendum.

“I honestly believe that if we don’t take a stand now we are on the verge of losing our precious park piece by piece,” he said.

Hawkins has made precisely that argument in defending the motion. He stressed the need to protect what he calls “one of the best features of Regina.”

He said there is only one chance to defend it, pointing to other urban parks — like one at Toronto’s waterfront — where a single development was the first step in its near-complete eradication.

The speakers who came to council on Monday fear the Conexus project is precisely that step.

“This set a dangerous precedent,” said Humphries, “allowing the Provincial Capital Commission to approve the ... Brandt Industries 70,000-square-foot commercial building proposal on the CNIB site.”

Humphries said the Conexus project “violated the intent” of Regina’s Official Community Plan and its downtown plan, both of which call for office development to be concentrated in the downtown and city centre — an area that has College Street as its southern boundary.

Speeches were still underway at the time the Leader-post went to press. Only one delegate was expected to oppose the motion: Vianne Timmons, president of the University of Regina.

She wrote in a submission to council that the university needs to grow to serve the community.

The University of Regina’s growth ... will be severely limited if commercial development of any kind is not allowed in Wascana Centre.

The partnership with Conexus, which donated $8.25 million to the Darke Hall renovation project in exchange for a 90-year lease on the property, is part of that process.

“The University of Regina’s growth and continuing contributions to our city will be severely limited if commercial development of any kind is not allowed in Wascana Centre,” she wrote.

But other organizations were expected to stand with the protesters, according to their pre-sent submissions to council.

Judith Veresuk, executive director of the Regina Downtown Business Improvement District, wrote that the development is of “great concern” to her organization. She agreed it will set a precedent that could harm the downtown.

“We anticipate the downtown vacancy rate continuing to increase as current downtown tenants consider relocating to these new developments,” she wrote.

The city has little direct power over the decisions of the Provincial Capital Commission, a point many of the speakers noted in their presentations to council. When the commission replaced the Wascana Centre Authority, the province gained a majority of votes on the board that makes major decisions concerning the park.

Speaker Bill Elliott said he sees the approval of the Conexus project — which he said lacked transparency — as “a failure of governance.”

He called for an open discussion about the park where everyone can participate, precisely what the motion under debate was urging.

Please consult leaderpost.com for updates on the debate and the vote on the motion regarding Wascana Park.