Municipal zoning hinders Elizabeth Fry Society move to downtown Sydney

A non-profit society that helps women transition away from criminal activity is looking to create downtown apartments in Sydney, N.S.

But it says its current housing proposal isn't possible due to the Cape Breton Regional Municipality's zoning regulations.

Officials with the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton want to purchase a building in downtown Sydney toprovide room and board to women and girls looking to get back on their feet.

Thesociety has been operating a residential facilityfor 18 years. Itsapartment program is currently run on the outskirts of Sydney.

Elizabeth Fry officials say they are losing money on rent and thespace is not convenient.

'We're not doing our folks any favours'

"We're not doing our folks any favours by keeping them sequestered outside of the city when all the services are located in the downtown core," Darlene MacEachern, the society's executive director, told the municipality's mayor and council.

MacEachern told council that money was set aside for the project but the federalfunding is time-sensitive. CBCNewsasked the society for further details, but those messages were not returned.

The society wasclose topurchasing a building last year,but had been told by CBRM planning staff that its proposedapartmentsfallunder the definition of a "correctional dwelling,"which is notpermitted in Sydney's downtown core.

Contractual agreement

Alison Aho, a criminal defence lawyer and a member of the Elizabeth Fry Society of Cape Breton'sboard of directors, said theshelter programoffers rehabilitative care and is part ofa contractual agreement with the Correctional Service of Canada, but it's not a correctional facility.

"I encourage an analysis of the land-use implications to be conducted by this planning committee in establishing what is permitted in these various zones," Aho told council.

"Notably, I urge the committee to consider allowing correctional dwellings in the downtown central business district zone because of how important the centralityis fordelivering services."

Aho said there is a men's halfway house operating in downtown Sydney, but CBRM staff say that facilitywas allowed under previous zoning rules.

Deputy Mayor Earlene MacMullinasked ifthe project could be moved forward before another opportunity is missed.

"There has to be a way that we can be more helpful than hindrance because if I have to see a woman's group home saying no to another opportunity ...I am not going to sit here and say, 'Well, it was the best decision for us all.'"

CBRM planning director Michael Ruustold society members that the quickest and easiest way for them to seek out a zoning amendmentis through a bylaw review process.