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Sarnia

Council Tables Church Bylaw Changes

Sarnia city council has tabled a rezoning application affecting churches, soup kitchens and food banks.

Monday, city councillors voiced concerns for the proposed bylaw changes stating they were too restrictive and opened the doors to legal battles.

Councillor Anne Marie Gillis successfully tabled the motion, giving council time to consider the city's 2001 bylaw where accessory uses of a church weren't defined.

Director of Planning and Building Jane Cooper says the only difference between the current bylaw and the 2001 bylaw is that it explicitly included food banks and soup kitchens.

"Subsequent to 2001, those two particular activities were taken out of the bylaw, for which therefore you needed separate consent. So by going back to 2001, they would be regarded as community church related facilities."

Before the report was tabled, Councillor Mike Kelch referred to concerns of their previous battle with River City Vineyard.

"The reality is, are we setting ourselves up to do some more court time to enforce a very prescriptive bylaw that may be unenforceable?"

Councillor Andy Bruziewicz asked for council to keep their hands off of churches and appreciate, rather than interfere with the valuable services they provide to the community.

A report heads back to council in November for further consideration.

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