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Gladwin Heights Church in Abbotsford is planning to construct a six-storey building that includes 68 units of housing for low-income seniors.

The project at 3474 Gladwin Rd. also includes worship space, a childcare centre, and 12 beds of “congregate care” operated by MSA Society for Community Living, which supports people with developmental disabilities.

The worship space would be on the first floor and would be used by Gladwin Heights United Church and First Methodist.

The childcare space would also be on the first floor and would offer preschool, daycare and before- and after-school care.

The congregate care facilities would be on the second floor.

The 68 housing units would be located on the third to sixth floors and consist of 64 one-bedroom suites and four studio units.

The proposed development would be located on the southeast side of the intersection at Gladwin Road and Riverside Road.

The proposal came before city council on Tuesday (June 24) for an amendment to the Official Community Plan (OCP) and two amendments to the zoning bylaw.

The project requires an OCP amendment to allow the institutional land-use designation to permit residential uses and rezoning to create a new comprehensive development zone.

Council gave initial approval to all the amendments, with final approval to be considered at a later date.

Both Coun. Dave Loewen and Mayor Ross Siemens applauded the project.

Loewen said it was an “innovative way” of using a large institutional property that would otherwise be under-utilized.

“I think this is going to be a template maybe for others to follow because it is a unique and innovative way and a better way to utilize properties,” Siemens said.