MELFORT — Melfort council passed a discretionary use application to allow Menzies Construction to build a six-unit townhouse style building on 1160 and 1180 Main Street, so that it could be rented to PLUS Industries.
Should the multi-unit be built and rented to PLUS Industries, it would serve to house intellectually challenged individuals so they can live more independently.
Brian Menzies of Menzies Construction said that any construction is pending an agreement with Plus Industries.
“What we are doing is wanting to put up a building that we’ll rent specifically to PLUS Industries, just because they have a shortage for clients and we want to help them out to fulfill their needs,” Menzies told council.
“Our intent long-term is that they will be leasing that building from us, and long-term that they will own that building in time.”
In a letter to the town, PLUS Industries general manager Lanny Baerwald said that Menzies Construction has shown a willingness to work with PLUS Industries to provide affordable housing.
“The overall benefit of this project is to provide a variety of residential settings that better suits the needs of a range of abilities,” Baerwald said. “PLUS Industries would have the flexibility to transition individuals from a supported residential setting to an independent residential setting.”
If an agreement is formed, Menzies hopes to have the single-level build completed by 2021.
Councillor Trent Mitchell was the one vote of opposition to the motion. He said he wanted a more solid guarantee that the building will always be used for independent living.
“We had concerns from residents in that area with relation to the risk associated with the fact there was going to be a multi-unit residential there,” Mitchell said.
“The issue that I have is there’s no guarantee that two years or five years down the road the purpose of that doesn’t change, and at that point the ship has sailed and we can’t track it.”
The discretionary use approval is conditional on there being no off-street parking in front of the property.
