By Chelsea Laskowski

The odd ‘lot’ out

Sep 10, 2013 | 6:55 AM

When it came to public discussion of proposed new developments in Prince Albert, two out of three moved smoothly through City Council on Monday night.

The three developments open for debate before council voted were quite varied.

One was a 6-plex townhouse at 3096-5A Ave. East, another, a place of worship at 4350-Second Ave. W., and the third a 15th Avenue East group home for 12 to 16-year-old girls.

Despite past debate on the proposed townhouse, the group home brought two members of the public to their feet at the meeting.

The place of worship is a Kingdom Hall for Jehovah’s Witnesses.

SIGA

SIGA and Northern Lights Casino main sponsors of the 31st PAGC Fine Arts Festival

10h ago

Workplace incident

City of Prince Albert pleads guilty to workplace safety violation, handed fines

12h ago

Lighting it up

P.A.'s Zablocki leads Regina to victory on Day 4 at Esso Cup

Apr 24, 2024

Simon Squire, an elder with Prince Albert’s Jehovah’s Witnesses explains why they needed a new permit after receiving one last year.

“With the dynamic of Prince Albert being so much First Nation’s-based we began to focusing on the Cree-speaking population last November and the response to that initiative was so great that it necessitated our plans for a new Kingdom Hall be expanded. So we stopped our plans that were underway.”

The third proposal for permits came from a group home that will house five females between the ages of 12 to 16. For whatever reason, these youths are unable to live with their families, explained Lynda Douglas, who is helping to set up the new peer home.

One member of the public stood to share her concerns about the location of the home.

“I will be most affected due to my property being directly adjacent to the property,” said Sharon Paproski.

“Parking issues would be one concern. The age group of the residents will dictate attending high school and this property is in no proximity to a high school. Just wondering if busing will be provided. Again, that would be a parking and traffic issue.”

The people setting up the new home have not yet decided where the youths will attend school because the ages may vary between elementary and high school, said Douglas.

However, the people working at the home would transport the students to school, she explained.

Another issue Paproski put forward was that her property value would go down with a group home in her neighbourhood.

Douglas explained that the five youths who will live in the area will live structured lives with school, extracurricular activities and supervision 24 hours a day by staff.

Paproski wasn’t the only person at the meeting expecting some negatives to come from the group home’s proposed location.

Coun. Don Cody shared his thoughts as well.

“I’m certainly one who has voted for group homes many, many times. I certainly know Lynda and her group very well. I know Children’s Haven and I know them all. They’re all very good and they do good work. They are a necessity in our community. But you know, we have a very small neighbourhood here. There are only about 10 houses in this neighbourhood. And, you know, them to put an organization of this nature in there, I’m just not quite sure about it. I think there will be devaluation of property.”

Coun. Martin Ring countered Cody’s perspective by pointing to a group home just off of Muzzy Drive.

“You would be hard-pressed to point that one out. That’s in a neighbourhood where the houses are $350-to $450,000. And there has never been a comment come back to me that there has been a lowering of their real estate value.”

Following the spirited discussion of the group home and its proposed location, council voted to approve the development permit application. It required that the group home is licensed or approved, proper fire and building inspections and that the number of residents does not exceed 25.

claskowski@panow.com

On Twitter: @chelsealaskowsk