Town community planner Alex Popoff. (Angela Brown/battlefordsNOW staff)

By Angela Brown

Eagles Nest Youth Ranch

Town renews discretionary use permit for youth group home, with conditions

Feb 17, 2021 | 2:09 PM

The Town of Battleford council has approved Eagles Nest Youth Ranch’s request to renew its discretionary use permit, to operate a group home for youth with six residents in Battleford, with a few conditions.

The town originally granted permission to the organization in 2019 for a discretionary use permit to operate a Type II Residential Care home with six residents at 61-28 St. W. for 18 months with a review to follow. Now that the period has ended, Eagles Nest has applied for a permanent renewal.

The aim of the home is to provide a therapeutic supervised residence for youth in care from ages 10 to 21.

Mayor Ames Leslie left council’s online session when the residential care home was discussed and voted on due to a conflict of interest.

Eagles Nest Youth Ranch program director Scott Dakiniewich appeared as a delegation before council at Tuesday’s online meeting to give an update.

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“In our opinion, everything has been quite well… I feel like the neighbours have been welcoming and accommodating to us as well,” he said. “We have had the odd issue with garbage and parking, and things like that. But any time we have had an issue, we worked to address it with any of the neighbours.”

Dakiniewich mentioned when police attended the home on several occasions it was to assist when there was a youth behavioural issue or to respond to and return a youth who had run away.

Dakiniewich said the organization has provided neighbours with phone numbers to call the home organizers whenever they have concerns to ensure they are addressed.

Town community planner Alex Popoff explained in his report to council the town received three letters from residents with concerns about the application, citing issues related to garbage bins at capacity, parking, increased traffic and police response to the home. One letter of support was also received.

Popoff noted a Type 1 Residential Care home which accommodates four or fewer residents is a permitted use in the town, so the organization would still be able to operate a home regardless. He said administration recommends the Type II Residential Care home be approved, while taking into account the organization’s willingness to work with neighbours to resolve their concerns.

Coun. Judy Pruden proposed renewing the discretionary use permit with some conditions based on feedback from the home’s neighbours. She said “most of the things are easily amended,” in addressing the issues.

Council agreed to renew the permit, for a two-year period with another review to follow after that time. The organization would be required to arrange to purchase one or two more garbage bins for the youth home as the ones they currently have appear to be inadequate. The organization also must to try to resume meetings with area residents, whether online or in person when permitted to meet COVID-19 restrictions.

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angela.brown@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @battlefordsNOW