Medicine Hat planning commission declines to recommend rezoning for proposed Mustard Seed shelter

Oct 21, 2026 | 3:43 PM

Medicine Hat’s Municipal Planning Commission did not recommend the rezoning of 514 South Railway Street Southeast at its meeting Wednesday.

The Mustard Seed is seeking a new location for its Medicine Hat operations and has submitted an application to the City to rezone the property for use as an overnight emergency shelter, with expanded use.

City Council will still have the opportunity to consider a first reading on rezoning the property from an Urban Villages and Corridors District to a Direct Control Special Use District. That is expected at the Nov. 2 council meeting.

The proposed facility would include 50 beds, provide emergency shelter, supportive housing, meals, health and wellness services and assistance navigating other supports.

A representative from The Mustard Seed said during Wednesday’s meeting that more beds are desired, but its current funding allows for an operation with 30 beds.

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The representative added that more than 300 unique individuals have gone through its Eighth Street Southeast Shelter location over the last year.

He also estimated that over 100 individuals are currently homeless in Medicine Hat.

The commission asked about avoiding issues that led to the closure of the Allowance Avenue location.

The Mustard Seed representative said most of those issues at the Community Impact Centre stemmed from its daytime drop-in operation, which would not be part of a new location.

The proposed new shelter location has been vacant since Fountain Tire moved to its Strachan Road Southeast location in early 2026.

A public hearing could take place as early as the Dec. 7 City Council meeting.

The Mustard Seed representative also said during the meeting that funding to construct the South Railway Street location would still need to be secured.

It could potentially be operational by November 2027.

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READ: The Mustard Seed seeks new location for Medicine Hat shelter on South Railway (Oct. 8, 2026)

https://chatnewstoday.ca/2026/10/08/the-mustard-seed-seeks-new-location-for-medicine-hat-shelter-on-south-railway/

by Jesse Gill

Medicine Hat planning commission declines to recommend rezoning for proposed Mustard Seed shelter

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