FAQs

An application for a development permit was submitted on April 13, 2023, and approved by City Council during its regular meeting on May 8, 2023. The development permit was approved for an emergency shelter and transitional housing facility. The structure will be developed in two phases:

1. Phase 1: emergency shelter and dining room.
2. Phase 2: transitional housing.

The building permit application for Phase 1 footings and foundation was submitted September 15, 2023. Building permits are submitted to the City for review and fee processing, then forwarded to Superior Safety Codes to complete the plan review and issuance of building permit.

No additional development permits are required for the facility.

During its regular February 11, 2019 meeting, Council directed Administration to investigate options for a permanent solution in co-ordination with community groups. Hope Mission attended the June 10, 2019 regular Council meeting as a delegation. Their presentation focused on informing Council on the history of Hope Mission and the role they may fulfill in the development of a homeless shelter to service Wetaskiwin and area people in need of shelter.

Hope Mission initially proposed the development of an emergency shelter at City Council’s February 28, 2022 committee of the whole meeting; the development permit was approved at its regular meeting on May 8, 2023.

Between proposal and approval:

1. There were 25 City Council meetings (17 in 2022, eight in 2023). All Council meetings are preceded by an open mic session that any member of the public can participate in. Alternatively, people had the opportunity to apply to be a delegation or submit official correspondence. Meetings were advertised on the City’s website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter/X, Instagram, Threads), as well as in the Pipestone Flyer when deadlines allowed. Meeting agendas could be found at the City’s iCompass Portal and livestream videos are on the City’s YouTube channel. City Council’s meeting schedule is always located at wetaskiwin.ca/councilschedule.
2. Hope Mission and the City hosted a joint information night at Wetaskiwin Mall on November 30, 2022. This session was advertised in the Pipestone Flyer and on the City’s website and social media channels.
3. Council attended many public events, whether hosted by community groups or the City, where Wetaskiwinites could speak about their concerns or topics of interest. Some City-led public engagement initiatives during that time frame include 2023 budget engagement sessions (November 2 and 4, 2022), the City open house (November 19, 2022), and a municipal development plan workshop (January 16, 2023). These events were advertised in the Pipestone Flyer and on the City’s website and social media channels.
4. A public hearing was required by the Municipal Government Act (MGA) for the redistricting of the lots at 5800 and 5900 37A Avenue. The first reading of the Bylaw 2027-22 was heard at the December 12, 2022 regular Council meeting. The public hearing — which was required prior to second reading — to redistrict the land from Municipal Reserve to Public Utility Lot was held January 16, 2023. The notice explicitly cited this rezoning was the first step in the process of rezoning for the development of a homeless shelter. The City advertised the hearing on the City website as of January 5, 2023, as per the requirements of Section 606 of the MGA. Additionally, the City advertised on the City's Facebook and Twitter accounts as of January 5, 2023, and in the Pipestone Flyer on January 5 and January 12, 2023. Second and third readings were passed during the February 13, 2023 regular Council meeting.
5. A second public hearing was required to redistrict the land from Public Utility Lot to Direct Control. The DC designation allows for City Council to have control over any development on the aforementioned parcel. First reading of Bylaw 2029-23 was read at the February 13, 2023 regular Council meeting. The public hearing was held March 13, 2023. The notice showed an initial concept drawing of the proposed shelter on the land to be rezoned. The City advertised the hearing on the City website as of February 23, 2023, as per the requirements in Section 606 of the MGA. Additionally, the City advertised on the City's Facebook, Instagram and Twitter accounts in posts on February 23, March 7, March 10, and March 12, 2023, and advertised in the Pipestone Flyer on February 23, March 2, and March 9, 2023. The City’s mobile electronic billboard also advertised the public hearing for two weeks, stationed at 37A Avenue and 56 Street. Second and third readings were passed during the April 11, 2023 regular Council meeting.
   • Note: Second and third readings of the bylaws to rezone the lots could have been approved following the public hearing. Administration delayed second and third readings to the next Council meeting to allow more time to receive public input.
6. Council and Administration could be contacted in several ways if residents were unable to attend events or meetings in person. Contact information for Administration is on the City’s website at wetaskiwin.ca/contactus and Council contact information is found at wetaskiwin.ca/council.
7. The Pipestone Flyer and the Wetaskiwin Times produced several informative articles, chronicling the progress of the facility’s development from proposal to approval.

Council unanimously approved Motion 096/23 directing Administration to complete the land donation process at the April 11, 2023 regular meeting. Administration subsequently worked with Hope Mission to complete the required legal documents. The documents are currently being reviewed by the Land Titles Office and once approved, 2.99 acres will transfer to Hope Mission.

The 2.99 acres of land was valued at $346,370 based on the 2022 assessment by Accurate Assessment.

The City does not own any other sizable, serviceable, vacant land that could host a facility of this nature.

The land at 37A Avenue is easily accessible to clientele, staff, and emergency services by multiple modes of transportation.

The land was initially zoned as Municipal Reserve and as such, the MGA limits what the City could use the for. If Council decided to dispose of reserve land, it must be for institutional use (i.e., facilities for government, education, or services such as an emergency shelter). The land could not be sold for a profit.

Previously, City-owned land near Walmart was used as a snow dump site.

The new emergency shelter and transitional housing facility was designed by Edmonton-based architectural group Arc Studios.

Phase 1 — which includes the emergency shelter — is approximately 15,317 square feet. Of that space:

1. 3,569 square feet are dedicated to emergency beds.
2. 1,701 square feet are dedicated to the dining room.
3. The remaining 10,047 square feet are dedicated to ancillary rooms, including a kitchen, mechanical rooms, washrooms and shower rooms, multipurpose room, entrance vestibules and lobby, an intake room, locker room, staff room, admin office, medical storage room, laundry facilities, and four counselling rooms.

Previously, the emergency shelter was operated out of the Civic Building at 4904 51 Street. The Civic Building’s interior square footage is approximately 18,406 square feet, spread out over several levels. The proposed new shelter has less overall square footage, but a larger footprint because it is mostly a one-level facility. This was done to keep the building as accessible as possible.

From conception to construction on any project, plans can change. Initial conceptual drawings had shown 36 beds: 27 emergency beds and a nine-bed sobering room. As the facility moved from potential concept to an approved project, new designs were made to include up to 60 emergency beds.

The most current conceptual design drawings show 52 emergency beds (in Phase 1), 18 dormitory beds (Phase 2 transitional housing), and eight suites (Phase 2 transitional housing).

Occupant loads are regulated by the National Building Code — Alberta Edition 2019. Under the code, the emergency bed area of the shelter would be classified as a dormitory and as such, must provide a minimum of 4.6 square metres (49 square feet) per person. Given the emergency bed area is 3,569 square feet, this would equate to a maximum allowance of 72. That said, Hope Mission has stated they will have a posted occupancy not to exceed 60 people in the emergency bed area.

The current temporary emergency shelter has a maximum emergency bed capacity of 42. 

From the beginning of the project, it has been clearly stated that Hope Mission would be responsible for the funding of the development and operation of the facility.

Hope Mission is also responsible for the development of infrastructure leading up to the site, including:

1. An extension of 37A Avenue that meets City engineering standards.
2. Construction of a sidewalk or trail along 37A Avenue from 56 Street to the building site.
3. Stormwater management design and construction.
4. Water and wastewater services to the building.

The provincial government has committed $3.2 million from Alberta’s Affordable Housing Partnership Program to aid in the building of the new shelter.

Costs to the City include administrative support and any enforcement services required.

Health services is the responsibility of the provincial government. Please contact Maskwacis-Wetaskiwin MLA Rick Wilson to voice your support for bringing more robust mental health services to Wetaskiwin.

There are approved development permits for the existing eight liquor stores and five pawn shops in Wetaskiwin. Council cannot simply shut them down. 

Council can, however, restrict where any potential new liquor stores/pawn shops go by making changes to the City’s Land Use Bylaw. Council can also regulate the hours of operation within the Business Hours Bylaw.

If a future development permit for a liquor store or pawn shop is received by City Planning & Development, and the application meets the zoning regulations as set out in the Land Use Bylaw, a new development permit would be approved.

If Council decided to reverse its decision and revoke the development permit — which was unanimously approved during its regular May 8, 2023 meeting — or attempt to withdraw the land donation, there could be potential massive liability to the City in the form of payment due to Hope Mission. Additionally, reversing the decision to donate the land could potentially discourage future co-operation and funding from the province, which would be a roadblock to future endeavours to improve services to the vulnerable population and community at large.

The December 11, 2023 regular City Council meeting had nothing to do with approving a development permit as it has already been approved, but rather, there was to be a discussion about an amendment.  

An amendment to the development permit was proposed to Council during its regular September 25, 2023 meeting, to adjust the height of the facility from 6.12 metres to 6.58 metres. The proposed amendment was tabled until the December 11 meeting, during which Council will be reviewing the amended plans. 

Since the September 25 meeting, the applicant has indicated they will instead move ahead with the originally approved development permit, to promote the timely progress of the project. Council will be receiving a presentation for information on the updated Hope Mission site plan. The changes in the updated site plan are minor and fall within the requirements of the original development permit. Updates include: changes to the overall site grading and proposed drainage plan; a patio added outside the south side of the dining hall; a smoking area at the east side of the building has a slightly modified size and shape; and a staff patio has been added to the east side of Phase 1.