New Location for Food Bank in the works

The Battlefords District Food and Resource Centre has major plans to move their base of operations from downtown 101st Street to the Knights of Columbus Hall at 1202 - 105th St.

The proposed move would transform the hall from a banquet hall to a warehouse and storage facility, but a rezoning of the property is required for that to happen. The current Food Bank location at 1171 - 101st St., it is being put up for sale.

The news was made public Monday as a result of an application made to North Battleford council by the Food Bank to rezone the Knights of Columbus Hall property from R3 Residential to M1 Industrial.

In correspondence to city Director of Planning and Development Tim LaFreniere, Food Bank Executive Director Bill Hall confirmed the Food Bank had put in an offer for the Knights of Columbus location, which has been on the market for the last several months.

Hall had cited several reasons for their proposed move: outgrowing their 101st Street location and the need for more storage and warehouse space for donated items; allowing them to offer their programs in a more professional manner; addressing parking issues; enhancing and increasing their programming; and also the closer proximity to the majority of their clients.

The rezoning proposal is significant because it is the first to happen under the new zoning bylaw and official community plan that was adopted by the City this year.

A resolution authorizing the preparation to rezone the location passed at council unanimously, but this does not mean the rezoning is a done deal. It simply clears the way for an amending bylaw to be prepared and advertised in accordance with the Planning and Development Act, which would return to council for discussion and votes in a month.

The rezoning application did not come without considerable discussion on the implications of such a change on the surrounding neighbourhood. One of the main concerns from councillors was what would happen if the property was rezoned to M-1 and the Food Bank ever decided to move out.

LaFreniere admitted the property could be a warehouse use “for anybody that needs a warehouse,  which councillor Greg Lightfoot speculated would mean it would potentially be available to plumbing, electrical and other potential industrial users down the road.

“It would be a lot more traffic and a lot more industrial use, I guess, even if it’s just warehousing,” worried Lightfoot.

The rezoning also means the property can only be used for a warehouse and storage and not for a banquet hall. The banquet hall function of the facility would go away, LaFreniere confirmed.

It is likely these issues, plus feedback from the public on the application, will return to council for discussion in the New Year when the bylaws are presented. Also coming back to council will be a proposed amendment to the official community plan land use map to accommodate the zoning revision.

This was not the only rezoning application to come to council Monday. An application was received to subdivide and rezone land occupied by Harwood Manor to accommodate a complimentary seniors’ apartment complex.

That recommendation, which would rezone the property from C3 Community Service to R4 Residential, also passed council, which means an amending bylaw will be prepared and advertised for that property as well.