A building on Coteau Street West that spent most of its life as a church space before briefly serving as a store and residence will once again support religious worship.
During its Nov. 14 regular meeting, city council voted unanimously to approve a discretionary use application from Living Springs Church Inc. to turn 303 Coteau Street West into a worship centre again. However, the maximum occupancy must remain at 90 people to meet on-site parking requirements, while the owner must obtain a development and building permit to change the property’s use.
Mayor Clive Tolley was absent from the meeting due to illness.
The property was used as a church from the 1940s to the early 2000s before it ceased operations, although city hall has no record of a change in occupancy or tenant, a council report explained. In 2010, city hall received a discretionary use application to use the building as a place of worship; council approved that application.
The building turned into a retail store and residence in 2020 before Living Springs Church applied this year to return the venue to a place of worship.
The Moose Jaw Express has reported on this location three times since 2019, including here, here and here.
Pastor Rob Reimer gave a brief presentation to council about his church’s application. He explained that he played for the WHL Warriors for four years — from 1987-88 to 1990-91 — and was captain for his last year.
“Moose Jaw, it has a special spot in my heart, so (we’re) looking forward to connecting to the community in new ways through Living Springs Church having its own building,” Reimer said, adding the congregation has been meeting at the Events Centre for a while.
Coun. Heather Eby has been a councillor since 2009 and thought it was interesting the number of times council had approved rezoning applications for this property.
“As a resident of South Hill, I used to attend church in … that building, and so I think it’s a great use in that neighbourhood — it fits well,” she added. “And I think it will be a welcome addition up there.”
Michelle Sanson, director of planning and development, told council that city hall has no problem with the application. However, the church’s maximum capacity must be 90 people to meet the on-site parking requirements of nine stalls. It would have to appeal the parking requirements to the development appeals board if the congregation grew larger — or find suitable off-street parking within 230 metres.
The zoning bylaw states that places of worship must provide one on-site parking stall per 10 seats in the main assembly area, or where there is no fixed seating, one space per 10 square metres of gross floor area.
Sanson’s council report noted that there are three other churches within the area, including Trinity United Church about 70 metres northwest, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church about 350 metres away and Church of our Lady Catholic Church about 725 metres southwest.
Meanwhile, the property is zoned C1B mixed-used neighbourhood commercial district; the closest C1 district is 450 metres east, although no businesses are currently active there.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Nov. 28.
