ELLERY – The Salvation Army will have to look for another location for it’s Anew Center after the Ellery Board rejected a proposal for the facility to be located at an undisclosed location in the town.
The Post-Journal reports the board voted 3 to 2 Thursday against the Salvation Army’s petition to change zoning, which was required in order for the project to move forward. With the rejection, the establishment of a New York state certified domestic violence support center and refuge was also declined.
The post-journal says many residents who attended the meeting were against the establishment of the support center because of fear. Some domestic violence survivors even spoke out against the creation of such a center because of the potential dangers that would follow.
The proposed shelter would have allowed for 19 domestic violence victims to seek safe harbor. Prior to being defeated by the town board it was approved by the Ellery Planning Board and the Chautauqua County Planning Board.
The Salvation Army has been searching for 15 years to relocate its domestic violence shelter, which is currently in the city of Jamestown, due to the current facility being inadequate to meet the needs of the victims being served.
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