Prince George, B.C.-  A plan to have a community care facility on Punchaw  Crescent in Prince George  has been  approved.

The  applicants wanted to  change the  zoning  to allow them to operate  a 24 hour  care facility for  12  people.  The property in question is an existing duplex  with  each side of the duplex  developed into a care facility for  6  people .

Each duplex has  three bedrooms  which would be converted to six single bedrooms,  all wheelchair accessible. The current plan calls for three staff members,  but the applicant says that  staff load could increase depending on the needs of the clients.

The proponents  say there wouldn’t be any  major  development on the site, just the changes to the carport to create  a lounge area  for the residents.

Those who oppose  the application  expressed concerns about parking and increased traffic in the area. Three health care professionals stepped forward  spoke of the need  for this kind of facility saying  it would  take some pressure  off the  University Hospital of Northern BC and Northern Health  in that it could free up  beds   that are currently being occupied by those who are on the way  to  healing but just need  some more care as they transition  back to their regular lives.

But  Councillor Koehler says  in his opinion “This make sense”  and supports the  application. His fellow councillors  echoed those  thoughts, and  voted unanimously in favour of  supporting the application.