The City of Moose Jaw will soon have a new therapy business that can provide counselling for families, couples and people struggling with mental health issues.
During its Nov. 14 regular meeting, city council unanimously approved a discretionary use application from Jeremy Zacharias to use a classroom inside Emmanuel Lutheran Church as an office for his counselling program.
The city considers this application discretionary because it does not see the program as part of the church’s programming.
Mayor Clive Tolley was absent because of illness; Coun. Kim Robinson recused himself from the vote because he attends that church.
Emmanuel Lutheran Church is located at 15 Paul Drive, just off Ninth Avenue Northwest.
“I do think this is a good fit … and something that’s really needed in our community as it is in many communities,” said Coun. Heather Eby. “And kudos for the church for thinking outside the box and doing things a little bit different than what’s always been done.”
Coun. Doug Blanc also approved this initiative, saying the community needs — and could use — a service like this. He wondered whether the church would still pay taxes on that classroom despite a non-church business operating in it.
“Yes, as long as we’re aware of it,” said finance director Brian Acker. “(However), sometimes it takes a while for us to become aware of it, but yes, they are assessed on that.”
City hall received a commercial business licence application in October for a marriage and family therapist office within a classroom in the church, a council report explained.
In his application, Zacharias explained that he has a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy and is an associate member of the Canadian Association of Marriage and Family Therapists. He is also contracted through the counselling agency Only You Forever to provide therapy for marriages, families and mental health.
Those types of therapies would occur mostly online with some in-person sessions.
The church’s property is zoned CS community service and institutional district, while the closest CS district is about 350 metres south of the building, the report said. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints operates at that location and doesn’t have separate offices in the building.
Meanwhile, the closest developed commercial district where professional offices are permitted is about 730 metres north near the North Service Road. This area mainly services vehicle-oriented businesses with access to Highway 1.
The zoning bylaw requires that there be adequate parking for the therapy business based on the classroom’s floor space, but the proposed office is less than the gross floor space needed for one parking stall, the report added.
Meanwhile, the church’s parking lot has 104 parking spots, “which is ample parking space” for any in-person counselling sessions.
The next regular council meeting is Monday, Nov. 28.
