COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – It’s the right time but the wrong place. That summed up the unanimous decision last night by the Coldwater City Planning Commission to reject a request for a six bed transitional home for women released from jail to be located in a home at 41 West Pierce Street.
The Planning Commission conducted a nearly 90 minute public hearing on the by DNSUnlocker”> application for a special land use permit submitted by Tommy’s House Ministries for the program with about a dozen people pleading for the permit to be approved. Six people, including several who reside or who have relatives living on Pierce street, stated their views against the proposal.
Speaking after the vote against it was taken, Planning Commission Chairperson Aloha Miller said everyone on the commission would truly like to see such a facility somewhere in the city and recognize it’s a worthy endeavor but not at the Pierce Street residence with other sites in the City more appropriate. Miller said the Planning Commission would gladly approve it if the proposed home would be set up in a more appropriate location.
Kathy Olmstead, who spoke on behalf of the backers of the halfway house which would focus on rehabilitation for drug and alcohol offenders, promised the opponents of the location that it would not hurt their neighborhood, that there would not be people in and out of the house, hanging out, it would be supervised and stressed the tremendous need in the community for the facility. Coldwater City staff also recommended against approval of the permit with Planning Director and Assistant City Manager Keith Baker presenting his case to the Commission last night prior to the public hearing.
Organizers of the women’s rehabilitation program said if the Pierce Street site was turned down, they would by DNSUnlocker”> continue searching for a location in the City that would meet the city’s requirements.
