The Mustard Seed applied to add 20 beds to its Allowance Avenue Southeast location after a request from the Alberta government. File Photo/CHAT News

By Eli J. Ridder

IN THE COMMUNITY

Medicine Hat denies Mustard Seed’s application for temporary shelter beds

Jan 15, 2025 | 6:15 PM

The Mustard Seed will not be permitted to add overnight shelter accommodations at its North Flats location after a City of Medicine Hat commission denied its land use change application amid pressure from frustrated residents.

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The Municipal Planning Commission’s six members voted unanimously to deny the non-profit’s development permit application at the end of a raucous public meeting Wednesday afternoon that at one point delved into a shouting match.

Coun. Andy McGrogan, who chaired the meeting, said allowing The Mustard Seed to add 20 beds to its Allowance Avenue Southeast location would “intensify” the impact it has to residential areas.

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“It’s not in the best interest of our community,” McGrogan said before voting against the application.

Residents have expressed increasing concerns over the placement of the two Mustard Seed sites, saying the behaviour of the vulnerable people who use the organization’s services are bringing illicit drugs, sexual acts, theft and other criminal activities into their neighbourhood.

Over 100 people filled a town hall last week to share their experiences in an emotional forum that featured Mustard Seed CEO James Gardiner, MLA Justin Wright and Mayor Linnsie Clark — key individuals that were at the planning meeting on Wednesday as well.

As a result of the backlash, a joint effort by the Alberta government and the Medicine Hat Community Housing Society is underway to find a new centralized location for its services.

The Alberta government asked The Mustard Seed to add the overnight spaces to its Community Impact Centre aim to provide safe, warm shelter for vulnerable individuals during the winter months, the organization said in December when it applied for the permit.

The organization’s application included filling a large room with beds and moving a 20-foot sea can to the property to store the belongings of those staying overnight.

Coun. Shila Sharps said she was both appreciative of the work The Mustard Seed does by taking care of the city’s most vulnerable but also sympathized with those that live in the Flats neighbourhood.

“I am incredibly grateful for the work that you do, but I feel for everybody here,” she said, before revealing she would vote against the proposal, to applause from the gallery.

“I wanted to be really clear: I am not supporting this leaving our community, I’m supporting it in a different place in our community,” Sharps said.

The Mustard Seed has 30 days to appeal the decision to the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board.

‘Who’s vulnerable here?’

Over a dozen residents took to the microphone during the commission meeting Wednesday to voice their concerns, fears and — for some — anger the impacts The Mustard Seed is having in their neighbourhood.

Residents shared their experiences and all but one urged the board’s members to stop the beds going in.

McGrogan, speaking to reporters after the meeting, said as a member of the commission he needed to consider how signing off on the application would have an impact on those who live in the area.

“Who’s vulnerable here? We have a vulnerable population as far as the people that use the facility, but we have an equally vulnerable population living around (it),” he said.

“You should be able to live in your neighbourhood as you expected it to be — and it’s changed drastically now — and I couldn’t even imagine with 20 beds going in there how it would change again.”

This is a developing story. More details to follow.