North Coast Transition Society outlines plans for new Transition House

The North Coast Transition Society made public its plans for a new 29 bedroom facility and office complex last week, designed to take full advantage of the setting of the 1.4 acre piece of land they hope to develop in partnership with B. C. Housing.

The society promises to leave as “small a footprint” as possible on the site just off of Park Avenue and bordering on Moresby Park , and plan on being environmentally responsible as they proceed with their plans.

The Daily News provided full details on their plans, as the papers front page story in Thursday’s edition.

PROPOSED WOMEN'S SHELTER WILL BE AS GREEN AS POSSIBLE
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Thursday, October 25, 2007
Pages one and three

The proposed new facility for the North Coast Transition Society would not impact Moresby Park, according to the project's planners.

During a public hearing to officially amend the community plan and zoning for a new two-storey facility on Park Avenue, Peggy Julseth, program development coordinator, said the society wants to keep the development as green as possible.

"There may be a perception out there in the community, because that is a treed area right now, that the property we are applying for is part of Moresby Park. I think that has been made clear that is not the case," said Julseth.

The North Coast Transition Society is looking to build a new 29-bedroom facility and office complex on a 1.4-acre piece of land in partnership with B.C. Housing.

"Our intention is to only request as much property as we need for the building. We don't want an excess of land we have no use for," said Julseth.

And in the back area toward the ridge, they intend to leave it as natural as they can.
“There’s no plan to go in and wipe out the whole square lot in order to get the building in to the property,” she said.

“And if you walk that area, there is also a significant amount of land between there and the ridge. From the Moresby pond and park area, you will not be able to see our building.”
During the public hearing, staff and board members represented the society.

“I think this is a really positive thing for your community. North Coast Transition house Society has naturally been growing in size. We currently have two offices and we are just looking at a third office within days for another program we are working on,” she said.

“This is consolidating all our programs services into one complex and we will be able to add additional length of stay.”

The complex includes 21 bedrooms for the purpose of the Transition House and Supportive Recovery Programs and eight one-bedroom units for intermediate supportive housing.
“Our intention is to end the cycle of homelessness as much as we can and that’s why second stage transitional housing is part of our proposal. It’s up to a maximum stay of two years,” Julseth said.

The only opposition to the development as it was proposed was from the Ministry of Highways, which expressed concern about the request from the society to reduce the number of required parking spaces.

Zeno Krekic, the city’s planner, said the Highways Department has a higher than normal interest in the project because it is technically located off Highway 16, however any concern will not impact the zoning or OCP amendment process.

Rather, it will be up to the two parties to resolve the concern before the city issues a development variance permit, which is the next stage in the process prior to construction.
Julseth explained that they have requested to reduce the number of required parking spaces to a total of 15 because the minority of people coming to the building does not own vehicles.
“The intent of this project is to go green… part of that is to try and reduce the number of parking stalls, paved and concrete areas in our proposal. The other thing is to make sure we are environmentally-friendly with the parking we are putting into place,” she said.

“We are encouraging people to use car pooling, bicycling and public transit as much as possible and also as part of the process we will have a covered bicycle are.”
In light of the presentation by the society, council concluded the process by rezoning and amending the official community plan later that evening, allowing the project to proceed.

Transition Society proposes new structure and expanded services

At next Monday's council meeting, The North Coast Transition Society will outline its plans and seek public support on a new two story structure, designed to better serve the needs of women recovering from abuse.

At the council meeting public hearing into the rezoning application, the Society will provide details on the planned two storey structure on Park Avenue, as well as update the community on plans to provide more services and better communication with BC Housing for their clients.

The Daily news provided a fair amount of background on the project and the services offered by the Society in Wednesday's paper.

Women's shelter set to reach more
By Leanne Ritchie
The Daily News
Wednesday, October 17, 2007

The North Coast Transition Society is proposing to build a new two-story building to house the services it offers to women recovering from abuse.

Last week, the city officially received an application to rezone a piece of land on Park Avenue.
The North Coast Transition Society has been working on the project in co-operation with B.C. Housing for quite some time.

"The proposed project contains 21 bedrooms for the purpose of the Transition House and Supportive Recovery Programs and eight one-bedroom units for intermediate supportive housing (transitional and second stage with a maximum two years stay," said Peggy Julseth, program development coordinator.

There will also be space for programming and counselling services; including sexual abuse intervention, Stopping the Violence Program, Child Support, Changes Program, the Supportive Recovery Program, the Hope Haven Transition House, In Her Shoes Workshops, Women's Outreach Program, Women Support Women program, and the Crisis Line and eight offices.
The city is leasing the property to the society for a small fee and will be waiving the zoning, variance and development fees.

According to the application, the society has chosen the site because it has good access to transit services but will still enable the society to maintain the confidentiality and privacy of its occupants.

"NCTS will be encouraging clients and staff to utilize public transit, walk, cycle and car pool to and from the building," Julseth said.

In addition, it also is located near public housing, with an opportunity for a partnership for permanent affordable housing.

As proposed, the project will have 15 parking stalls, three for tenants, five for visitors, one concealed stall for private drops offs and six for staff.

There will be a public hearing on the proposal at the next council meeting, next Monday at 7 p.m.

In addition, earlier this week, the North Coast Transition Society was informed it will receive $150,000 during three years from the provincial government to expand its homeless outreach programs.

"Homeless outreach services in about 30 communities across B.C. have provided stable homes from more than 1,600 people," said Rich Coleman, Minister Responsible for Housing.

"North Coast Transition House Society has achieved some exceptional results with its outreach work in Prince Rupert, helping to break the cycle of homelessness and we want to build on this success."

The Ksan House emergency shelter in Terrace also received an increase of $69,000 in annual funding to provide additional overnight staffing.

"Emergency shelters provide an essential service to those who find themselves in very difficult circumstances, and this new funding will help to make sure people can stay temporarily in safe and secure surroundings," said Coleman.