Mission has taken its first step forward in approving a new hospice facility.
Council voted 3-1 on Monday (Oct. 21) to amend the official community plan to permit a 10-bed hospice care facility on Ferndale Avenue. The bylaw was on its first reading, with two more readings and a public hearing remaining before council can vote to adopt it.
The amendment would redesignate the property at 33625 Ferndale Avenue to an institutional zone from rural residential. The site is across the street from Mission Institution and near city hall.
“It is not expected that the hospice facility will disrupt the rural nature of the community any more than a new residential neighbour might. Hospices tend to be quiet, private institutions that do not clash with the neighbourhood. The location of a rural setting for the hospice was chosen so that its patients could spend their remaining time in a quiet, peaceful setting,” a staff report reads.
The proposed facility would replace Christine Morrison Hospice, which is currently located on the third floor of Mission Memorial Hospital. Per the report, the relocation would free up space for 30 additional beds at the hospital.
“Hospice care is an essential component of palliative care that focuses on improving the quality of life for terminally ill patients at the end of their life. It is considered a community program and is seen as a good service for a community to offer,” a staff report reads.
A neighbourhood engagement meeting was held at the Mission Hospice Society on April 4 to discuss the new site with 20 in attendance.
Plecas was the lone vote against the amendment. He said he was challenged with the proposed location near an industrial zone, traffic flow, and whether it would remain a hospice building long-term.
“We don't have enough information about the party involved and looking at doing the development,” Plecas said. “My understanding is that the Hospice Society does not own the property. They're relying on an individual who has a keen interest in building it for them and we still don't know what the arrangement is with Fraser Health and we're not party to that conversation.”
He also mentioned previous discussions about keeping healthcare-related facilities around the urban core near the hospital.
“It seemed to me that would be the appropriate location to build a hospice facility – in the urban core, close to other hospital resources,” Plecas said.
Coun. Jag Gill said he also had concerns but supported the application because of the bigger picture
“The biggest deciding factor for me is opening up the third floor of the hospital. I want to be in a position where we're talking to Fraser Health and we're saying, 'Hey, you guys have now a whole floor opened up. What services are you bringing to the City of Mission?' I think that's very important," Gill said.
Gill said the core around the hospital has been unaffordable for the hospice society due to their limited funding as a non-profit.
A public hearing will be held in the future to collect input on the proposed facility since council pushed ahead with first reading.
Coun. Angel Elias, who serves as Mission Hospice Society executive director, was absent from the meeting. Mayor Paul Horn and Coun. Carol Hamilton were also absent.
