Councillors in the Rural Municipality of Prince Albert have voted against a controversial new foster home, saying it doesn’t conform with zoning bylaws.
RM councillors denied a development request Wednesday from the Rising Stars Children’s Ranch to open a foster home for up to 10 children between the ages of five and 10. The municipality says the home, which has already been built, does not meet the requirements for a residential use permit and is situated on prime agricultural land.
That leaves the home north of Prince Albert empty, the bills piling up and the group behind it looking at its options before deciding on the next step, said Dave Hobden, the group’s executive director. It’s too early to say whether the issue will end up in court, he said.
The group is also in the process of paying back a $92,160 operating grant from the province, which was awarded even though the home is unoccupied, Hobden said.
A recent community plan for the RM of Prince Albert outlines the need for the area to remain mostly agricultural, says deputy reeve Paul Rybka.
"We cannot just change bylaws at will," he said Wednesday.
"We fully support children’s homes (but) you cannot build an institution in an agricultural district."
Hobden said he was shocked to see the application turned down. Hobden acknowledges the group made mistakes throughout the development process, but says that shouldn’t have derailed the entire project.
"We all anticipated the children would come out ahead of this, that they would win," he said Wednesday.
"I guess in the end, they chose not to allow the children in the RM."
The home was completed last spring. Hobden said his group thought it had everything in place when construction started, but later learned it had broken zoning regulations.
Rising Stars submitted an amended application to allow the home as a discretionary use, but was turned down. Hobden said the group relied on the advice of the RM throughout the process.
"We are not builders and we are not planners," Hobden said. "We don’t understand completely how to do things. . . . We didn’t think those mistakes would have affected the children."
Councillors with the RM voiced concerns Wednesday that the home was built despite proper zoning approval. The home has caused some tension between the RM and the Rising Stars group.
Coun. Eugene Matwishyn said the home is also close to a busy rural road and traffic in the area could pose a danger to young children.
"If the building wasn’t there, the discussion would have been friendlier, easier," Matwishyn said.
"I just don’t understand how anybody would go forth without absolutely everything lined up. . . . We put the cart before the horse."
Wayne Phaneuf, executive director with the government’s child and family community services branch, said the RM’s decision is disappointing, especially since there are a number of children in the Prince Albert area who are in need of foster-care services. The Ministry of Social Services will continue to be involved in the project, he said, and will try to work out an agreement between Rising Stars and the RM.
Zoning issues are the responsibility of the RM and the government cannot force the RM to approve the project, he noted.
"It’s a needed resource (and) the ministry certainly hopes that the RM and Rising Stars can work this out."
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