Residents along 28th Street in Battleford will have some new neighbours, whether they like it or not.
At the June 17 Battleford town council meeting, council approved the recently proposed discretionary use application for a group home to be located at 61-28th Street.
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch, an organization that takes referrals from the Saskatchewan Ministry of Social Services, applied for a discretionary use application to house six youth.
Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch was permitted to purchase the home with the intent of housing four youth without the matter going before council. The matter was before council because the organization intended to house six youth.
The town received a number of letters from residents opposing the application, citing the possibility of decreased property values, along with other concerns including a lack of parking space, general noise in the neighbourhood, and others.
The June 17 council meeting was the third in a row council discussed the matter. One suggestion included was permitting four youth, then allowing two more at a later date.
In an email to council, Scott Dakiniewich of Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch worried “denying the application in order to see how things unfold will ultimately not be productive and won’t foster the understanding required for the community to feel positive about this initiative.”
Dakiniewich offered to build a fence around the property and to establish a Neighbourhood Advisory Committee.
The advisory committee, Dakiniewich wrote, could involve regular meetings between neighbours and staff “to address concerns and build a healthy welcoming community for our youth.”
During discussion, Councillor Kevin Russell said he would “love to baby step the matter … to see how it transpires.”
Councillor Doug Laing said Eagle’s Nest Youth Ranch application aligns with the town’s Official Community Plan and that he had a “hard time” finding reasons not to approve it.
Councillors Laing, Shelley Boutin-Gervais, and Susan McLean-Tady voted in favour of the application. Councillor Kevin Russell voted against.
Mayor Ames Leslie recused himself from the discussion and the vote because his parents own a nearby home for seniors.
“We strive to be a community of inclusion and to go against that didn’t feel right,” McLean-Tady said after the council meeting.
