City of Winnipeg Planning and Permits Department

I should know better. When dealing with the wheels of bureaucracy - take the time lines that they give you and double if not triple it.

In 1955 the City requirements were either looser or none existent. I don't know what the wording was then but the house had side yards (the part of the yard that is from your exterior wall of the house to the property line) of 4'-0" to the North, 3'-9" to the South and 22'-6" to the City yard in the front.

The addition was designed to be built in the exact same locations of the existing Garage / Carport and we weren't even affecting the North yard. During the design process I brought a set of the drawings to my neighbor to the South in case they had any objections - of which there were none.

Current City Bylaws require 4'-0" Side Yards and 25'-0" Front Yards. Since we did not comply with this they required us to apply for a Zoning Variance. What this basically means is that a nice yellow poster goes out in your front yard with information of what you are planning and enables the community an opportunity to review and possibly appeal the plans.

Our Permit application was registered with the City on May 28, 2008. At that time I was told that the application typically takes 4 - 6 weeks. With the Zoning Variance I knew we would be at least at the maximum. After 3 weeks I had emailed my contact wondering where things were at. I was told that the Plan Examiner was still reviewing things. At 4 weeks and still nothing I called again and was told that it was in someone else's hands. When I was transferred to him he indicated that yes he had the drawings but they were at the bottom of his pile. When he saw the application date he realized that they should have been at the top and out already. He promised that when "he got back from vacation" (the long weekend) he would review them. It turns out he was leaving for vacation in 5 MINUTES!!

True to his word the City called the following week (week 5) and let me know that the variance signs were ready for posting. The signs had to be posted for two weeks and then at that time if there were no issues the permit would be issued. If there was an issue, the matter would be turned over to the Community Zoning Board for a review. They meet on the 15th of every month. This was on July 3rd. The next meeting was July 15, but due to the summer the next meeting after that was September 15th. Our Variance Posters were to be posted from July 3 to July 17, 2008 so any issues and we were bumped until Fall.

On July 17th our posters came down and thankfully there were no response from the Community.