Olds council gave first reading to a land use bylaw amendment that would allow an emergency shelter to be built on land the town recently acquired.
Olds council gave first reading to a land use bylaw amendment that would allow an emergency shelter to be built on land the town recently acquired.
At a meeting on July 14, council voted to re-designate a parcel of land to a direct control district, which would permit an "essential public service" to be provided on site.
A public hearing date for the amendment has been set for Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. in council chambers.
According to a subdivision report by Parkland Community Planning Services dated May 20, Mountain View Credit Union donated a strip of land to the town, which would in turn be leased to the Olds Emergency Shelter Society for free.
Norm McInnis, the town's chief administrative officer, said this bylaw amendment is the first step toward construction of the building, to be paid for by the Olds Emergency Shelter Society.
"So we've been working with the emergency shelter and with Mountain View Credit Union, who graciously donated a strip of land. So the subdivision has been completed now and this land use change today, gives us the ability to approve the emergency shelter," McInnis said.
"So we are in discussion with the group right now. They have a draft of a long-term lease for that land. It's with their lawyers right now, is my understanding, but we're well along the way. We've got some drawings from them and some conceptual ideas of what they want to do there so the ball's in their court right now."
McInnis added he does not expect any construction to be done this year and that he's still waiting to get a draft of the lease from the society.
Bob Phillips, president of the Olds Emergency Shelter Society, said the organization has not committed to any plans yet.
"There's nothing … in stone yet. Nothing confirmed, nothing signed up. We're still in the process of, I guess you can say, negotiations," Phillips said.
Despite information about the proposed shelter site coming up at a public meeting, the Olds Albertan is not disclosing the location of the land to protect the privacy of any potential users of the proposed shelter.
The definition of an emergency shelter encompasses many features.
Town documents state it can be a place that provides temporary accommodations for people in need; includes "sobering facilities" but without addiction treatment; offers health and education programs; and has a kitchen and dining room for users.
According to the society's mission statement on its website, the society aims "to provide support to victims of family violence as they rebuild their lives."
"Our mission is to provide safe, secure shelter and to provide our clients with the necessary support to deal with life issues."
In an interview with the Albertan in November of 2013, Phillips said the society was aiming to open a shelter in the community this year that can accommodate four to six adults— plus any children who come along with them— at any given time.
He added that because the society had not yet finalized a plan for the proposed shelter, the estimated cost of the project was not known at that time and would depend on the location.
McInnis said plans for the shelter have been underway for a while now.
"This has been a long time in the works. Hopefully they can get the land. Getting the lease settled is big for them because they need to have that before they can access any of the big grants."
The society is also currently accepting donations for the project and anyone wishing to contribute or learn more about the shelter concept can visit http://oldsemergencyshelter.com.
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