Group trying again for zoning variance

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This article was published 10/08/2023 (1148 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While the former Redwood Motor Inn will make another bid to get a zoning variance to transform into a family reunification facility, a group of local social service organizations has put out a letter to encourage its organizations to provide their thoughts on the facility to city council.

The new owner of the Redwood Inn, Aurora Recovery Centre, a company trying to convert the motel into a long-term recovery facility that helps parents recovering from addiction reunite with their children, brought the zoning variance application in early July.

But during the planning commission meeting last month, commissioners voted against approving the facility’s zoning variance application, which would allow it to operate for a different purpose than as a motel. Aurora appealed the decision, and the appeal is set to be heard by city council later this month.

This week, the Community Wellness Collaborative, an organization of about 50 social service organizations, sent a letter to its members referencing the centre’s facility in Brandon, called the Aurora Family Reunification Centre. The letter, a copy of which was provided to the Sun, encourages the collaborative’s members to submit their concerns or support for the facility to council.

Ross Robinson, co-chair of the collaborative, told the Sun that the letter is an effort to ensure that council makes an informed decision when it decides on the appeal in a couple of weeks.

“Counsellors should be able to hear the voice of the people before they make a decision,” he said.

Robinson said that the collaborative is not taking a side on supporting or opposing the zoning for the facility, but rather giving its organizations a way to voice their perspective on it.

However, Robinson did say that the collaborative has received concerns and questions about how the lack of clarity on the motel-turned-transitional-housing-facility will operate.

“We feel that counsellors typically are asked to make decisions and they don’t have enough time to consider it,” he said. “… So, if you’ve got a positions one way or another, let the counsellors know.”

Robinson is the executive director of the John Howard Society of Brandon, which along with Youth for Christ, has received government funding to build a transitional housing building on 16th Street, which is located nearby the former Redwood Motor Inn.

At the planning commission meeting in July, Robinson, on behalf of the JHS, opposed the zoning application, citing concerns with what zoning options is appropriate for this type of facility, and whether the facility’s location and condition was suitable for children and vulnerable women.

Meanwhile, the reunification centre is working on strengthening its case for approval of the variance.

The president of Aurora Recovery Centre, Michael Bruneau, told the Sun that the facility has built a fence, which was a requirement from the planning department.

“I hope they approve it,” Bruneau said. “It’s the best thing that ever happened in Brandon [in] a long time … it’s badly needed.”

Chantel Klainchar, the program director for Aurora’s Brandon facility, said that though the variance was denied, the families that were at the facility at the time were able to stay and the facility has even accepted new families in the interim. She said that they have a more detailed presentation of the facility’s purpose prepared for the council meeting later this month, which includes plans for a greenspace and child-minding area.

In response to previous questions from the Sun about the facility operating after the zoning variance was rejected, the planning department’s principal planner, Sonikile Tembo, said that there were no tickets or penalties handed to the facility.

“We wouldn’t issue a ticket for having people living in the building since a hotel use permits people temporarily living in the building as per previous definition provided,” Tembo wrote in an email.

Mayor Jeff Fawcett told the Sun that he has received some letters about the facility’s zoning process from local social services organizations.

In an emailed statement, Coun. Heather Karrouze (Ward 1), who sits on the Community Wellness Collaborative, echoed Robinson’s position that the collaborative’s letter is part of an effort to help council make an informed decision.

“The Community Wellness Collaborative has brought their questions and concerns forward to help ensure that city council is as well informed as possible, in consideration of the Aurora Reunification Centre’s project and appeal,” she wrote.

Meanwhile, Robinson emphasized that the collaborative was seeking both letters of support and concern.

“What I am hoping to achieve is supportive and informed decisions,” Robinson said. “Not based on the loudest voice in the room, but on solid, logical questions and answers.”

The zoning variance appeal will be heard at Brandon City Council’s meeting on Aug. 21.

» gmortfield@brandonsun.com

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