Panel Vote on Church’s Homeless Shelter Due

A Southern Baptist pastor who has been battling the city over help for the homeless will learn tonight whether he can build a 52-bed shelter on church grounds.

The Planning Commission postponed a vote on the issue last month after hearing hours of emotional testimony from both homeless people, who want the shelter, and church neighbors, who fear an increase in crime and a drop in property values.

At the previous hearing, the commissioners reached no decision on what conditions should be imposed on the shelter if it were approved.

The Rev. Wiley S. Drake had balked at some of the original 27 conditions that city officials set, saying he was concerned because the city insisted on a manual of guidelines similar to those at other shelters in the county.

City officials are also insisting that Drake stop allowing the homeless to camp on church grounds until the shelter is built, something he has refused to do.

The camping situation was what first drew the attention of city code enforcers last summer. Drake refused to dismantle the camp, and the city prosecutor’s office began proceedings that eventually led to the compromise that would allow a shelter on the site.

The Planning Commission tonight is expected to hammer out a specific agreement with Drake. The meeting will be at 7 p.m. in council chambers, City Hall, 6650 Beach Blvd.