Grand Forks city council pushed back Monday evening. A Second Street BC Housing Project discussion was listed on the agenda, to which Mayor Brian Taylor says the project has been pushed back to September. Councillor Rod Zielinski put forward two resolutions.
The first was that council actually supports the impending facility being on Second Street:
“So I’d like to propose a resolution just to be very clear of where this council, the seven members, thinks where this issue is going…. Again, whether or not I get a seconder is another story….”
That motion failed six to one with Mayor Taylor the lone supporter.
He then made a second resolution:
“I don’t believe that Second Street is zoned properly for the project described, so even though that we don’t support, in theory, the project…. I think it’s more intense that that project, as defined in the letter of intent that we all read, does not fit the zoning of core commercial.”
That motion was simply that council acknowledges that issue. It passed six to one. The Warming Centre was also added as a late item, per request of Councillor Zielinski earlier that meeting. He says the Warming Centre is currently zoned as light-industrial, adding that the current zoning definition doesn’t allow overnight accommodation besides a watch-person’s quarters. He also made a resolution that ensures staff enforces their bylaws. That motion passed by six to one.
Mayor Brian Taylor says it’s a sad day:
“What we’re facing here is a bit of an unknown and in fact it is not up to the City to find another location or keep this place open. It is BC Housing and local charities, and so I wish them luck but I don’t think there’s anything more at this point that I can expect in terms of addressing the problem from council.”
You can watch the full meeting here.