Saskatchewan city to take another look at rejected group home proposal

WEYBURN, Canada – A Saskatchewan city council that voted against building a group home for disabled adults in an upscale neighbourhood is reconsidering the application.

A statement from Weyburn’s city council says councillors met Monday with provincial government representatives and those involved with the project.

Council says those with the project want to see the home built in the same neighbourhood and council plans to take another look at the application.

The council rejected a proposal last week to have the group home built on a lot in The Creeks.

A spokeswoman says council has not signalled whether it will reconsider the same location that was rejected last time.

Council is set to have its next regular meeting Monday.

Weyburn Mayor Marcel Roy has said council did not intend to cause any harm, but residents in the neighbourhood had voiced concerns about the proposed group home.

Letters sent to council ahead of last week’s vote show residents were worried about safety and a potential impact on property values.

Coun. Brad Wheeler said during a debate on the vote that people who bought $700,000 homes in The Creeks might have changed their plans if they knew a group home was moving in. He said group homes carried a “stigma.”

He later apologized for his remarks. City council also apologized for insensitive language used at the meeting.