The Cariboo Community Church in Williams Lake will soon have a permanent home in the Lake City’s downtown core.
Pastor Paul Lomavatu says they want to bring flourishing life to the area.
He adds that says he sees the concerns that have been sparked by others when it comes to parking.
Cariboo Community Church began 16 years, meeting primarily in schools and now at the 7th Day Adventist Church on Woodland Drive.
Williams Lake City Council approved in a 4-3 vote to allow a parking variance for 25 required parking spaces instead of 98 at the Church’s location in the former Field’s store on Oliver Street, Tuesday evening.
Mayor Walt Cobb ,along with Councillors Ivan Bonnell and Craig Smith voted against the variance which will not have a covenant restricting it to Sundays only.
Cobb says although he believes a church anywhere is probably a good idea, he says he believes it will be more of a deterrent as there are issues already issues when it comes to parking downtown and feels that a can of worms may have been opened.
Councillors Jason Ryll, Laurie Walters, and Sue Zacharias, and Scott Nelson voted in favor of the parking variance having no restrictive covenant, pointing that the Church’s location will economically benefit the downtown core.
The Cariboo Community Church is anticipating to occupy 35 Oliver Street following renovations in the next few months.