The Eastern Interlake Planning District (EIPD) will be holding a public hearing early next month to consider the rezoning of a parcel of land to better align with an already-established garden centre business on the site.
A request to re-designate a parcel of land in Winnipeg Beach will affect the area outlined in the black dashed line. A public hearing will be held on April 2
GRT Consulting Ltd. submitted an application to the EIPD in January on behalf of Georgetown Acres & Interlake Garden Centre.
Gimli-born Rayme Thomson and his wife Michelle took over ownership of the garden centre, which has been serving the community for over 30 years. They modified the name to include “Georgetown” in homage to Rayme’s dad and entrepreneur George Thomson.
The couple are considering future development that could see the production of pumpkins, vegetables and cut flowers, according to their website.
The Thomsons are asking EIPD to consider re-designating the land to commercial general — which accommodates commercial development outside of a central business district — so that it better aligns with the current and anticipated scope of their business.
The property is currently zoned urban residential and is located at the junction of Highway 9 and Quarter Mile Road.
“Our intent is not to enhance or capitalize on the physical property itself, nor to increase any developmental intensity, building scale, or site usage beyond its existing form,” states the Thomsons’ application, which is part of the EIPD’s circulation package. “The rezoning is sought to place the business within a more appropriate and encompassing regulatory framework that accurately reflects its evolving range of activities. As such, the operation of the business has the potential to extend beyond the limitations of residential zoning and are more suitably categorized under a Commercial designation.”
As the proposal is administrative in nature, it won’t “introduce new impacts related to traffic, noise or neighbourhood character,” the Thomsons wrote, “and the existing use and physical conditions of property continue.”
The garden centre offers a wide range of plants, seeds and garden accessories, and promotes sustainable gardening practices, according to its website.
Commercial general zone can accommodate larger developments with outdoor displays and storage. In addition to garden centres, businesses can include automobile sales and building supply centres.
On Feb. 5, the EIPD’s board passed first reading of a bylaw (No. 01-2026) to amend its Development Plan (bylaw No. 01-2022) in order to allow for the proposed zoning change.
Amendments to the EIPD’s Development Plan require three readings and approval from the provincial minister of municipal and northern relations
An administration note in the EIPD’s circulation package states that should the commercial general zone be approved, there will be a future proposed rezoning amendment to a commercial highway zone.
The EIPD handles land-use development, building and planning services in partnership with the Rural Municipality of Gimli, the Town of Winnipeg Beach, the Town of Arborg and the Municipality of Bifrost-Riverton. Each entity has two members of council that sit on the EIPD board.
The public hearing will be held on April 2 at 5 p.m. in Town of Winnipeg beach council chambers at 39 Robinson St.
