The Salvation Army plans to build a new community center where its food distribution center is in Chico.
The Salvation Army in Chico presented plans
for a new community center to the Chico Planning Commission on Oct. 5.
The plans were approved, pending other
requests, with a 3-1 vote. One commissioner abstained from voting because he
wanted more information.
The community center would be located at 567
E. 16th St. where the Salvation Army currently has a food distribution center.
The charity had to request a land-use permit because the location is in a
low-density residential zone.
Currently, the food distribution is in
disrepair, aging and can no longer effectively serve the population, the
chairman of the project said at the meeting. The food distribution center’s
kitchen can make 250 meals a day; the new center would prepare 700 to 800
meals.
Several residents of the neighborhood where
the community center is expected to be built voiced concerns at the meeting.
One resident said that when people arrive
early to pick up food at the distribution center, they take up residents’
parking spaces and people sometimes sleep in their yards.
The Salvation Army has told the city it plans
to build a fence similar to ones in the neighborhood, will allow people
inside while they wait to be served food and will have security cameras on the
premises.
-By Ruby Larson