Permanency approaches for Westside food bank
Westside Community Food Bank's temporary home is about to become permanent.
The district of West Kelowna gave the food bank property at 2600 Hebert Road temporary zoning nearly two years ago, while monitoring to see if there were any issues.
Brent Magnan, the district's planning supervisor, said staff kept track of the site and use, and the district has not received any complaints or responses from the public. Rezoning, he said, would be consistent with surrounding commercial properties.
Mayor Doug Findlater said he was happy to support the rezoning. He pointed out the surrounding property uses include a funeral home, a former church converted into a tire shop, a car lot, a mini-mall under renovation and Paynter's Market.
"I certainly don't see any conflicts with neighbours."
Findlater said that for people on a limited income, access to transit is not very far away from the location. He added the district has had no complaints about the food bank, parking concerns failed to materialize and the society has maintained the property well.
Coun. David Knowles said the food bank at that location is a great improvement on the previous structure, through the contributions made by Gorman Brothers and various volunteers.
Food Bank manager Faith Lanthier agreed the current space is a vast improvement from the modular unit they once inhabited, and well suited to deal with the rising number of clientele they've been dealing with.
The zoning change is set to become permanent pending review by the B.C. Ministry of Transportation and Highways and a public hearing.
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