Zoning change upsets Mission

Richard Rolke - Vernon Morning Star Published: May 25, 2010 7:00 PM

City hall is scrambling to keep a service that feeds the hungry from closing. Vernon council has instructed staff to investigate the Upper Room Mission’s concerns that zoning changes could prevent it from serving meals daily. “This seems a little strange,” said Coun. Mary-Jo O’Keefe during Tuesday’s council meeting. The 27th Avenue mission says it has been informed by city staff that they weren’t aware that the agency provided religious services for its clients. “We have been operating these services for over 25 years with no objections from the city or zoning problems,” said Jake Spoor, Upper Room Mission chairman, in a letter to council. “I understand that we now are to be designated as a place of assembly. If this is so, it means we can no longer continue with serving our meals without major upgrades. The meals are very important to our guests and this is where most of our effort goes into.” The mission is presently zoned central business district.

Spoor added that the uncertainty over zoning also delays construction of new washrooms, could add costs to the project and a federal government grant could be in jeopardy. “I am requesting that since we are not adding a new program that already exists, that we may be red-circled to continue under our present zoning.” Staff will look into the matter and report to council. O’Keefe hopes a satisfactory resolution can be found. “We want to make sure we support them. They are good for our community,” she said. The mission serves 225 meals on average every day.

Kim Flick, planning and building services manager, is investigating the matter. “We’re not sure where this has come from,” said Flick, adding that it’s not been determined who from city hall spoke to the mission about zoning. No building permit has been sought for renovations, so Flick says the mission’s project has not been turned down. “We don’t want to see their use hampered in any way. We’ll do what we need to, to make sure the zoning works for them,” she said. Coun. Jack Gilroy fully supports the mission’s activities but points out that buildings must meet requirements to ensure public safety. “If you get over a certain number of people in there, that may push it into a different occupancy level. They may require exits and sprinklers,” he said.