Confusion reigned at city council, as councillors struggled to figure out what to do about an application for a medical clinic in the north end of the city.
In the end, councillors finally decided by a 4-3 margin, following two votes on two separate votes, to not approve the application at an April 25 council meeting.
Councillors had to decide on a discretionary land use application to establish a medical office at 2591- 99th St., in the Wilson and Zehner Funeral Home building. The office was to house up to nine doctors.
However, city administration recommended denying the application as recent work on downtown revitalization had made recommendations on locating professional offices in the downtown exclusively, in the C1 Commercial district. It had been part of the discussion of the strategic plan for the city.
According to a memo from Tim LaFreniere, city planner, dated April 20 and presented to council, "recent work related to downtown revitalization has made recommendations with respect to locating professional offices in downtown exclusively, and these recommendations have been the basis for direction to the City's planning consultant.
"If the objective of maintaining professional offices in the C1 Commercial district is to be followed this application should not be approved."
There was considerable support on council for overruling administration's recommendation and allowing the application to proceed in this particular case, however. Both councillors Ron Crush and Trent Houk spoke in favour of the application, with Houk in particular citing the need not to interfere in the running of businesses.
But Councillor Grace Lang said she would support administration and vote to deny the application, saying the proposed office was in a beautiful building but in a "not so great location," far from amenities and public transit.
In the end a vote was called, and council voted 4-3 to defeat a resolution stating "the application to establish a bedical office at 2591 - 99th St. be denied." One of the deciding votes against the resolution was cast by Councillor Ray Fox.
A second resolution was then moved by Houk to approve the application. This time, Fox surprised everyone and switched sides. He voted no, sending the second resolution to approve the application to defeat as well. That led to confused looks on the faces of councillors, who realized they had rejected both opposing options on the table.
An embarrassed-looking Fox immediately offered an apology and admitted he had been confused by the first resolution. He had meant to vote to support administration and deny the application, he said. But by casting a "no" vote to the resolution he ended up unwittingly voting the wrong way in favour of the application.
As a result, Fox said, he had no choice but to vote no on the second resolution in order for the application to be rejected.
"I'm sorry I caused the confusion," Fox said.
Fox's explanation for his votes seemed to clear the air, as council determined they had indeed denied the discretionary use application for a medical office on 99th Street after all.
