Permit for new Door Co. homeless shelter denied

TOWN OF UNION - A Door County church will not be allowed to open its doors to families in need.

The Town of Union board denied the church's permit application to create a homeless shelter Wednesday night.

The facility would have been located at the Southern Door Community Church.

Board members cited zoning issues.

"The reason for the zoning ordinance is to protect property values and the property tax base," explained Supervisor John Bur.

However residents had even bigger concerns.

Southern Door Community Church had high hopes for a 90 day transitional housing program for homeless mothers and their children.

But the Town of Union board put an end to those plans Wednesday night.

"It's not unexpected, it's sad," explained Church Rev. Paul Peterson. "Take a deep breathe and figure out what's next."

The proposal created quite a stir within the small community. Dozens of people turned out for the meeting.

Those against the facility had two main concerns, safety and location.

"I don't believe the location from the start is good," explained Union resident Beatrice Jeanquart. "They can either have it in Sturgeon Bay or Green Bay where people have access to different things, where they can walk. Here they have to depend on someone with a car."

"They're coming into the community, who's to say what will happen?" said another concerned resident.

Board members say there was more support from surrounding communities than in the town itself.

"There are some pros and some cons obviously," explained Town Chair Cletus Fontaine. "It's a five or six to one against the proposal or the conditional use permit from the residents. From the outside, all they way from the Garden or Brussels or the other townships to Green Bay, Sturgeon Bay, that's all positive."

Fontaine says the church, with proper documentation, can ask the board to reconsider.

However, the church pastor says that's unlikely.

"I don't think that there's any hope this would pass," Peterson said. "We'll regroup and see if there's anything else we can use the facility for. It's just a shame that it's not being used more than it is. There's so much need, so just take some time, and try to figure out what's next."