Edson town council has passed second and third readings of Bylaw No. 2329, which rezones the Reflections lot from a Commercial Service District (C2) to a Direct Control Open District (DC-O).
Reflections is an adult drop-in centre that provides basic services, like snacks, showers, laundry and social activities, to residents facing mental health or housing challenges. Under the current Land Use Bylaw, the facility is designated as “supportive housing,” which is not a permitted use in C2 zones.
Town officials say the facility is subject to a host of conditions in order to operate, which have all been complied with. One condition limits it to allowing clients to stay overnight only when temperatures reach -25 C with wind chill. Reflections is applying for a provincial grant to support and expand its services, which would require services to be offered 24-hours a day, seven days a week. The facility needs to be in an approved zone before it can apply for that service expansion.
A public hearing was held on Feb. 3 to allow residents to share their input on the matter. Five written submissions were received, two in opposition and three in favour.
Multiple community members spoke at the meeting. Proponents said the facility is a benefit to the community and, in some cases, has saved the lives of its users. Opponents expressed concerns around public safety and potential impacts on economic development.
Some comments concerned the location of Reflections or the idea of expanding its services.
The item returned to council during its regularly scheduled meeting on Feb. 17, at which point Deputy Mayor Pat Fogarty reminded councillors and the community that Bylaw No. 2329 only concerns who controls the development authority for the parcel, not potential changes that may come down the road.
Reflections’ anticipated application for expanded services will need to follow the same path of approval as any other development within a DC-O zone, as it is now that the bylaw has been passed.
Councillor Corrie Wilson-Leier said, “In my view, direct control is the most appropriate tool for this site-specific location because it allows council to retain oversight and make future decisions transparently on a case-by-case basis, rather than making a broader change to the land use bylaw that would apply to many properties.”
Councillor Peter Taylor reminded that, even if the bylaw was defeated, Reflections would still continue its current operations at its current location.
The bylaw passed unanimously.
Mayor Kevin Zahara and Councillor Greg Pasychny did not participate in the discussion or vote on this matter, as they were not present at the public hearing.
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