This week saw an interesting night for Stonewall City Council, as they held a conditional use hearing to allow a homeowner to rent out their home to a group that provides assisted living services. Mayor Lockie McLean says people began showing up for the public hearing 45 minutes before the meeting, and the sea of people went right to city hall's doors by the time the meeting started. McLean notes one man in the crowd had the keys to the nearby United Church, so they decided to move the meeting there.

While some in the crowd opposed the application due to concerns over property values or other issues, after seeing the public's view on the matter it was an easy decision to approve the application.

"The length of the list of those in opposition, there were so many more in favour. When all the presentations were over, we took it back to the regular meeting of council at the church, and called for the recorded vote. Our council was unanimous in approval."

McLean says it was a great feeling to approve the application, especially with so many in the crowd who were passionate about moving forward with the proposal.

"It was heartwarming, quite frankly. You could feel the energy in the crowd, and look at the faces of the people in the crowd. You actually knew some that had children that someday may need this type of help, this type of assisted living. You knew when you made the decision at the end of the night, you did something good. The people in the room, that's all they wanted."

While the approvals been given to the owners of the home, McLean says their work on that file isn't over just yet. He feels there's no reason that those looking to provide a place for assisted living need to go through this entire process in the future.

"One of the things that was heartrending was when a mother at the first hearing back in December asked why they had to be put through this just to have a place for their child to live. I believe that this is something Stonewall can change, that we can change the by-law, so that people don't have to go through this again."

He says they'll be taking a look at their by-laws throughout the year, to make the necessary changes.