The Salvation Army is looking to move its food bank and thrift store operations so they are under the same roof.
During Monday night's meeting, city council approved the first two readings of a rezoning bylaw to facilitate the creation of a one-stop resource centre at the charity's 18th Avenue location.
Next door to the College of New Caledonia, the property is zoned as light industrial and houses the Salvation Army's donation depot and warehouse.
"The proposed usage of the building would be to house our Community and Family Services (Food Bank), our Thrift Store as well as our Donations Depot under the same roof, providing easier access to our services for the needy of Prince George," wrote Bill Glasgow, business co-ordinator for the Salvation Army, in a letter of intent to the city.
To make this happening, the current zoning bylaw would be amended to include definitions for food bank and second-hand goods, and those uses would be added to the subject property.
According to a staff report, general retail is not typically considered an appropriate primary use in an industrial zone, so administration recommended the thrift shop be a secondary use to the food bank.
"The retail, generally of second-hand goods raises the necessary funds to continue food bank services, and patrons can utilize the thrift store to purchase, or be gifted items of need," the report said.
About 5,000 square feet of the building will be used for the food bank, 6,500 square feet for the thrift store and about 6,300 square feet for the donations depot. The site will also house the charity's emergency vehicles.
"We have estimated our 'turnkey' costs to be approximately $249,500, including some small renovations and what has been determined as critical repairs," Glasgow wrote.
