Welcome to the Coalition to Save Lemay Forest
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Update on Subdivision (Consolidation) and Rezoning Application for 823 Lemay Avenue and the Lemay Forest land
Updated: September 23, 2024
It’s been busy! Here is a brief summary of the most recent events.
Process in summary:
- Applications are heard through various levels of City Committees before the final decision is made.
- The critical path for the consolidation and rezoning application DASZ 9/2024 was:
- Riel Community Committee (RCC)
- Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development (SPP&D)
- Executive Policy Committee (EPC)
Winnipeg City Council (WCC) – scheduled for September 26, 2024
Watch it here
- Public participation for this topic happened at the RCC.
Timeline of events:
- The decision set to be heard at the June 24th RCC was held over to September 6th.
- On September 6, 2024 the RCC heard the application for DASZ 9/2024.
- At this point public consultation ended for this application and the decision was referred to the SPP&D.
- Over 150 submissions were received in opposition! Amazing work everyone!
- Read the disposition (decision) here.
Click image to enlarge.
- The SPP&D heard the same application on September 13, 2024 and concurred with the disposition from the RCC.
- The EPC heard the same application on September 17, 2024 and concurred with the two previous decisions.
- As a result, the application as submitted for consolidation and rezoning DASZ 9/2024 has been rejected by all three committees!
- The last step is a full council vote on September 26th, 2024.
- This is incredibly exciting and we should all be proud! The effort to Save Lemay Forest has not waived and supporters have been crucial in the successes so far!
- However, the fact is that this land is still privately owned and Mr. Yahyapour may submit another application in the future.
- A preliminary hearing also occurred in parallel at the Municipal Board of Manitoba on September 12, 2024 and the decision from this hearing has not been posted yet.
Useful context:
- View all content from the committee meetings here including video recordings and decisions.
- The District Planner recommendations are posted on the Riel Community Committee website:
https://clkapps.winnipeg.ca/dmis/DocSearch.asp?CommitteeType=RC&DocumentType=A - Preliminary hearing notice for the Municipal Board:
Sep 12 2024 MB Hearing Notice
An open letter to the owner of the 22.5 acre Lemay Forest and 823 Lemay Ave:
18 May 2024
Dear Mr. Mazyar Yahyapour,
As the registered owner of the 22.5-acre property known as Lemay Forest, as well as the home located at 823 Lemay, you are our neighbour and a member of the St. Norbert community, even if in absentia. St. Norbert residents and community have a long and storied history, one that is characterized by tolerance, diversity, and collaboration. Over the course of a year, thousands come from a distance to visit St. Norbert and enjoy the many natural and cultural features of this neighbourhood. Those of us who live here – some for generations – value these treasures as much as we value our neighbours, and we work hard to overcome adversity and differences by respectful dialogue and understanding.
We believe it is reasonable to ask our neighbours and their agents to make an effort to align their actions with that approach. To that end, we would like to take this opportunity to help you understand what you have bought into by acquiring property in our midst. At the same time we understand that the property has not turned out to be the investment you had hoped for. This could lead to feelings of disappointment, a sense of betrayal, even anger over this outcome. We commiserate in this presumed response, and would be delighted to make a more personal acquaintance to ease that impact.
Based on your authorized communication in October 2023 expressing your openness to another entity acquiring the land known as Lemay Forest, St. Norbert residents and allies have lobbied diligently with municipal, provincial and federal governments to purchase the property in question. As a result, as of March 2024 sufficient funds have been secured and you are in receipt of an offer to purchase the land known as Lemay Forest. This offer is based on a credible, 2024 appraisal of the land’s valuation. We are disappointed that you have not accepted this offer to purchase. You still have the opportunity, albeit not indefinitely, to act on this credible option to part with the property. Doing so would allow you to move on to new and hopefully more viable investments. To reiterate: there is a willing buyer with the funds and the authority to acquire the land at fair market value. This willing buyer has secured funding from all three levels of government. These are public funds, and our leaders release them in trust that they will go toward the betterment of all society, such as full public access to Lemay Forest and the preservation of its historic and cultural components. The offer that was extended to you in March 2024 is our money, deemed worthy of this purchase. It is our hope that you will respectfully consider that offer for future generations, biodiversity, climate resiliency, healing for people and planet and reconciliation.
We would be happy to meet with you at any time and welcome you as a member of the St. Norbert community.
The Coalition to Save Lemay Forest
The appeal to demolish the dwelling on 823 Lemay Ave was heard by the Riel Community Committee on May 3rd and the decision to deny the demolition application was upheld!
Thank you to everyone who took the time to speak in delegation as well as submit their written comments. We had 52 written submissions – a new record for our group!
Did you know that even though John Wintrup has been the spokesperson for the Lemay Forest land, that he doesn’t actually own it?
The owner of the land is MEMAZ INC.
The director of this company is Mazyar Yahyapour.
The Standing Policy Committee on Property and Development
January 11th Summary
The committee voted to accept the motion as information so it will not be going on to Executive Policy Committee and Council. The battle is not over as Markus Chambers and others are working behind the scenes to secure other funding partners. The message is cautious optimism.
So let’s let them do the work behind the scenes and we will post updates as they come!
Where do we go from here?
We have faith that Markus Chambers and the elected officials he is working with to secure funding partners to acquire the Lemay Forest, are working with our communities’ best interests in mind as they tackle this project.
Markus Chambers is aware that we are ready to help and he will let us know when that time comes!
In the meantime:
- We will continue to fundraise (link is in featured posts at the top)
- We will continue the process of acquiring grassroots non-profit status.
- We will continue to engage on social media!
Let’s be cautiously optimistic together!
Thank you Markus Chambers, Ryan Palmquist, Save Our Seine River Environment Inc., Trees Winnipeg – Coalition to Save the Elms, Manitoba, Inc., Erna Buffie, Trees Please Winnipeg, Heritage St. Norbert, Aaron Kim Johnston, OURS-Winnipeg and everyone in this group for your support!
Click here to read the disposition or to watch the meeting.
Tochal Developments Group Inc. hosted an open house at the St. Norbert Community Centre on January 6th, 2024.
View the presentation here.
View the original invitation here.
As of December 1 2024, no trespassing signs have been erected at two main entrances to the forest.
What is Lemay Forest?
Lemay Forest is one of the last intact riverbottom forests in the City of Winnipeg. It is a large A-B classification forest and greenfield situated on the banks of the Red River in the historic neighbourhood of St. Norbert.It is surrounded by additional contiguous riparian forest, and the St. Norbert dike system.
This land is also situated on river lots 84 and 85 – two of the last intact river lots in the city, existing largely in the state they did when they were surveyed when the province of Manitoba was created.
The Lemay Forest is a riparian (riverbottom) forest, home to many mature tree species including maple, green ash, elm, cottonwood, and basswood.
It is a nesting place for migratory birds, song birds, birds of prey, and the keystone species pileated woodpecker. It is also a wildlife corridor providing habitat and safe access for many wildlife species, reptiles and amphibians.
Watch our welcome to Lemay Forest video for a summary of what Lemay Forest is and why it’s important to the City of Winnipeg and its residents:
We've Launched a Fundraising Campaign!
We want to show our elected officials that the community is committed to the acquisition process, in both tangible and intangible ways. A grassroots fundraising campaign will send a clear message that we are committed to supporting the City of Winnipeg with their purchase of the 22-acre Lemay Forest and greenfield.
As of: September 5th, 2024:
We’ve officially surpassed our original fundraising goal of $5000! Thank you everyone!
To date we’ve raised $7225 and we’d love to see it keep growing!
We acknowledge that the Lemay Forest and greenfield land where we seek refuge, photograph its creatures and benefit from is situated on Treaty 1 Territory, the lands stolen from the Anishinaabeg, Anishininewuk, Dakota Oyate and Denesuline Nations, and the homeland of the Red River Métis. We acknowledge the harms of the past, and we dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership with Indigenous peoples in reconciliation and collaboration.