MELBOURNE -- Expansion of a Melbourne soup kitchen appears to be on the back burner after a late-night vote.
Melbourne city leaders voted around 1 a.m. Tuesday, and according to a News 13 viewer at the meeting, they denied the rezoning request by Daily Bread to expand on Fee Avenue.
Many people who live and work nearby worry crime will go up and property values will go down if the expansion happens.
The executive director of the kitchen said that is not true.
"The new facility will also enhance the area in many ways. All our clients will be inside, rather than milling around in a parking lot awaiting services. There will be ample seating, showers, office space, and a modern kitchen to enable us to help those in need," said John Farrell, Daily Bread's executive director.
All hope is not lost for the soup kitchen. Melbourne Mayor Harry Goode made a motion to allow the issue to be brought back up in the future.
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