If home truly is where the heart is, it could be said the City of Meadow Lake’s heart is in the right place. During the April 8 meeting of Meadow Lake city council, approval was given to a discretionary use application received from the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation for the development of a residential care facility at 2 Larocque Dr. The motion to approve the application was made by councillor Marty Bishop and seconded by councillor Conrad Read.
“The applicant proposes to construct a house for the purpose of providing supported living for four adults,” explained planning and development manager and interim city manager Neil Marsh in his official recommendation to council. “The project appears to be in keeping with the intention and requirements of the zoning bylaw and official community plan. The site is fully serviced, including water and sewer lines trenched to the property. The applicant has signed a lot sale agreement, conditional on approval of this discretionary use application.”
As a discretionary use in this zone (R2), the city is required to carry out a review and approval process set out in the zoning bylaw. This includes advertising, notification of residents within 75 metres of the property being developed and a public hearing, prior to council approval of the development permit. During the public hearing, which also took place during the April 8 meeting, Josh Campbell, project development consultant with the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation, made a brief presentation to council to further explain the proposed development and to answer any questions local legislators may have had.
“As an agency of the Ministry of Social Services, the Saskatchewan Housing Corporation provides housing and housing services to people who can’t otherwise afford or access adequate safe and secure shelter,” Campbell stated. “SHC owns roughly 18,000 units in 260 communities across Saskatchewan, which, in turn, are managed by local housing authorities. We also design and build group homes for various community based organizations across Saskatchewan. Since 2015, we have developed more than 60 group homes. This group home is actually our first foray into developing in Meadow Lake. Our intent is to build this residential care facility to house adults with disabilities. The care facility will provide support for local families, helping to keep their loved ones in the community.” Campbell went on to say, upon reading correspondence received, he understands there are concerns about the group home potentially turning into an addictions treatment centre or a facility for a similar use.
“I can say confidently this funding is earmarked specifically for the development of a group home for adults with disabilities,” he confirmed. “Being this is a discretionary use, we would be unable to change the use without applying for a permit in general which would require further review, public consultation and scrutiny from elected officials. It’s simply not worth us to change it to anything other than a group home. We’re putting all this money into developing a home for people to spend the rest of their lives in, why would we want to change that?” Campbell also said, building a group home in this area, will benefit the greater community of Meadow Lake by creating jobs and a long-term resource for the community.
Meanwhile, a letter received by the city from nearby residents Jane and Ed Weber outlines concerns about the development having the proper elevation. “Originally, that whole area along the east side of Larocque Drive was lower,” the letter reads. “Dirt was moved from the west side to allow for green space and houses with walkouts on the west side when the area there was developed. The dirt was not removed and hauled away, but moved to the east side of Larocque Drive and built up two to three feet. This caused flooding into yards like ours on the back side unless there was lots of foliage there to stop water runoff. A drainage swale was put in – in the middle of the lots – but does not seem to help much… Not good for drainage or looks as one property is three feet higher next door with a steep drive.” This concern was discussed by city council, with officials stating they would look into the situation to ensure there would be no further drainage issues upon development of the group home.
“I’m quite confident we will ensure there will be positive drainage into the street – it won’t be going into their backyard,” Read said. Marsh agreed. “This will be a way to ensure it is draining the way it is supposed to,” he said. “If not, it will be an opportunity to make some corrections.” Read also asked how many staff members would work at the home during the day and the night, as well as how many people would reside there. He was told there would be two staff members during the day and one to two at night, while four residents would occupy the home. Meanwhile, the community based organization expected to oversee the new group home is Multiworks Corporation. Also on hand for last week’s meeting was Multiworks executive director Dave Thickett. “The ministry is generally very willing to work with existing community based organizations,” Thickett said. “It is Multiworks’ intention to say we would like to run and operate this group home. Our intention is to be the one.” This would mark the sixth group home in Meadow Lake to be operated by Multiworks. “It would be for people with cognitive disabilities,” Thickett said. “It will be their forever home.” The option to approve the discretionary use application was subsequently carried.