City OKs bookstore move

The King’s In Bible Store will be able to move to a new home in the Carter light industrial area.

City council voted unanimously Monday night in favour of granting the store a three-year temporary-use permit to set up shop at 1727 Nicholson St.

Staff had recommended council deny the permit because it is not consistent with the official community plan for that area but also anticipated there will be no negative effects on the neighbours.

The store has been forced to relocate from its 1246 Sixth Ave. location downtown to make way for a new hotel and will be looking for an appropriately-zoned location while the permit is in place, council was told.

The move comes two weeks after council extended for another three years a temporary-use permit for the Redeemed Christian Church of God Faith Chapel for its church at 3850-18th Avenue, near the corner of Ogilvie Street, also in the Carter light industrial area.

The church has also had trouble finding suitable property, council was told at the time.

An extension to a temporary use permit can be granted only once. After that, the proponent must either find a new home or convince council to rezone the property.

The King’s In new home is next to the Anchors Fresh Fish and Seafood store and within a short distance of the Salvation Army’s Curt Garland Community Support Centre, Coun. Brian Skakun noted, and asked about adjusting the OCP and zoning bylaw to allow the use without going through the application process.

In response, planning and development general manager Ian Wells said the Carter light industrial area provides a key function and allowing for more intensive uses like retail will force industrial users out to other properties and delay shipping times and services.

“I think it’s something we have to be careful of,” Wells said.