Council denies Adult & Teen Challenge proposed thrift store location

A plan for Adult & Teen Challenge to establish a new thrift store and office space on an Industrial Park lot was denied by city council on Tuesday.

The applicant, Avedo Inc. on behalf of property owner Solomon Budala Holdings Inc. made the application for a conditional use that would allow retail sales on the property located at the corner of Acres Drive and Industrial Road.

Stefan Hodelmann presented his case to council explaining why they needed to move from their Main Street location. He said the building they currently occupy is too small and work will have to be done on it since the roof will not be able to handle the snow load associated with being next door to a six storey building currently under construction.

He proposed that the new space would be part of a larger development on the property and would include an area for accepting and repairing donations, a retail floor and a place for office space and counselling services. In fact, the social services aspect of their work is something Hodelmann said is their primary purpose.

His request was not supported by administration who said despite precedents that include approvals for Local Matters Thrift Store and Skirtz & Co in 2019 and 2022 respectively, this application should not be approved.

“Of particular administration concern – the land in question has been sold to the developer at cost with the understanding that it be developed for industrial purposes,” the report stated. “If a retail sales use is approved for this site, the Steinbach taxpayer is then subsidizing this commercial development and use, and through taxpayers funding, the city has effectively become a competitor of private commercial property developers.”

Daniel Emond, CEO of Adult & Teen Challenge also spoke to council explaining they were unable to locate a commercial property with 10,000 square feet that would serve their purpose.

While councillors all voiced their support for Adult & Teen Challenge, they unanimously voted to deny the application.

“I don’t think we have a choice but to deny it,” Coun. Jac Siemens who moved the motion to deny said.

Siemens said because the permission to have retail goes with the title, the entire lot would then be subject to approval. But like administration, he too focused on the reasons for having the industrial park.

“The city builds industrial parks with tax dollars,” he said. “We sell the lots at cost or just above cost, so we recover our costs.”

“If we approve this and it becomes retail space, we’re in direct competition to other commercial property developers in Steinbach,” he added. “That’s not the intent of the industrial park.”

Jake Hiebert seconded the motion to deny, and he too praised Adult & Teen Challenge for the work they do in this community. But he pointed to his voting record, indicating his consistent stance against retail in the industrial zone.

“My position in the past has been consistently I vote against retail in the light industrial area and previous applications in this area have all met with my negative vote,” he said.

Coun. Michael Zwaagstra agreed.

“I think it’s important we protect the integrity of the industrial park,” he said.