PEI

Summerside convent suffers setback

A proposed convent in Summerside is in jeopardy after the city's technical services department recommended the nuns’ rezoning request be denied.

City department recommends rejecting nuns' rezoning application, but council to have final say

Three nuns from the Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus of Ragusa plan to move to Summerside in the summer of 2017, to serve at St. Paul's Parish and eventually establish a daycare. (Submitted by Diocese of Charlottetown)

A proposed convent in Summerside is in jeopardy after the city's technical services department recommended the nuns' rezoning request be denied.

Summerside city council will decide next week whether to accept the recommendation.

A group of nuns have an accepted offer to purchase a property at 291 South Drive, with room for expansion.

They are asking for the property to be zoned institutional to accomodate future plans for a daycare. The rezoning being approved is a condition of the purchase.

Some neighbours have spoken out against the idea, raising concerns about increased traffic from the child-care facility.

The sisters are coming to P.E.I. at the invitation of Bishop Richard Grecco, who was looking for nuns to move to the Island after the departure of another order several years ago.