(Rev. Bill Newell Chair of Yarmouth Food Bank Society speaking to Yarmouth Town Council Thursday night.-CJLS News)
The Yarmouth Food Bank will keep running on Herbert Street.
Last night, town council approved a Planning Advisory Committee recommendation to re-zone 2 and 6 Herbert Street for use as a food bank.
The Food Bank Society renovated the property and opened at the location in late September.
Rev. Bill Newell, Chair of Yarmouth Food Bank society says they went ahead with renovations to 2 and 6 Herbert before town approval. He says he was hoping to have the re-zoning done in Sept. Food bank has been open since late Sept on Herbert. pic.twitter.com/DUMpyKqJfy
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) November 16, 2017
Reverend Bill Newell, who chairs the society says they knew they were in violation of town zoning laws.
But Newell says a move was necessary, as the former location on Glebe Street did not serve their needs.
“It is not in centre town no, but it’s certainly not out of the way on one end of the town either way. It’s been busy but it runs very smoothly, much for efficiently that it did before so we’re very pleased with that.”
He says they had no choice but to move to Herbert Street.
” We were out on a limb and I knew that but it was necessary to get out of where we were. It was not workable anymore. It was necessary to relocate.”
Yarmouth town public hearing on re-zoning 2 and 6 Herbert Street for use as food bank on now. Neighbouring resident Stephanie Eldridge opposes move, saying town leasing the property to food bank means it’s already a done deal, says food bank doesn’t belong in residential area. pic.twitter.com/cGLy326Q6q
— Y95 – CJLS (@CJLSRadio) November 16, 2017
But neighbouring resident Stephanie Eldridge is opposed to the relocation, and made her feelings known once again at a Public Hearing prior to the council meeting.
Eldridge says the location doesn’t serve the town well.
“They should have a centralized location where they would have equal access. Not everyone owns a car unlike they seem to believe that they do. Not everyone can afford to use the bus.”
Eldridge says she supports the food bank but privacy at her home is lost.
She pointed to Modern Realty having to move from their building on Main Street to a new location downtown in 2015 because the town refused to change the zoning.
“They’re saying ‘no we can’t allow spot zoning’ but they find it curiously easy to do when it’s in their favour. I am disappointed. i’m disappointed for myself, I’m disappointed for the people of the food bank who deserve better. They need a much better facility than that.”
She also says she’s noticed people waiting out in the cold for the food bank to open, and they need better shelter.
Eldridge says the town was wrong to let the food bank set up shop at the location before public hearings on the zoning change were held.
