The fate of a proposed homeless shelter and the future of the commercial district just north of downtown Bend rest with a city hearings officer’s ruling next month.

The public hearing will be held at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 6, in the council chambers at Bend City Hall, 710 N.W. Wall St.

A hearing was scheduled after business owners on Wednesday appealed the city’s decision to approve a shelter planned for the corner of Revere Avenue and Division Street.

The 32-bed shelter is the project of The Shepherd’s House, a nonprofit ministry that offers counseling and mediation. The shelter would provide housing, meals, job counseling and referrals to drug and alcohol treatment for homeless men, according to Executive Director Lynda Johnson.

Although it was originally scheduled to open Aug. 1, a tide of opposition has bogged down the process.

Allan Bruckner, who owns the Whistle Stop business center, next door to the proposed shelter, said the plans have cast a shadow over business.

”I have three (tenants) that said, if they move in, we’re moving out,” he said.

Bruckner and Carla Wigle, who owns property across the street, filed the appeal with the city.

The appeal cited Bend code that requires planners to consider the impact of any proposed development on traffic, nearby property value and the appearance of the neighborhood.

Bruckner said the city glossed over those issues when it approved the site plan Oct. 6. He said he wants the planned shelter relocated.

”I don’t think they belong there,” Bruckner said. ”I think the city really needs to take a big look at this and say, where is the best place?”

Johnson, with The Shepherd’s House, said she believes business owners’ fears are misplaced.

She said shelter residents will be put to work cleaning up trash and pulling weeds in the immediate neighborhood, to improve the area. Shelter staff and volunteers could patronize nearby businesses.

”My thought is, work with us and we’ll support you, too,” Johnson said. ”We just want them to give us a chance.”

She said she would want businesses to notify her immediately if any shelter residents cause trouble.

Wigle said she joined in filing the appeal because she wanted to make sure the concerns of nearby business owners were heard.

”It really comes down to the viability of the adjacent businesses,” she said. ”These people work so hard, and somebody needs to be looking out for them.”

She said she was worried about homeless people loitering in the neighborhood, and would like to see more safety measures in place if the shelter moves into the neighborhood.

”I think there could be private security provided to make sure someone wouldn’t just cross the property line and camp out,” Wigle said.

Background checks would also help ease some of her worries, she said.

Wigle said she believed The Shepherd’s House could take steps to repair relationships with potential neighbors.

”I don’t ever believe something is irretrievable, but I think there needs to be more consistent communication out of The Shepherd’s House, and concern and cooperation, how can we make this a win-win instead of a win-lose,” she said.

Johnson said she will be researching the impact similar shelters in Salem and Portland have had on their neighborhoods and is inviting representatives from those missions to speak at the hearing.

She said she believes that, with that evidence, The Shepherd’s House will prevail.

Local supporters of the planned shelter have called with words of encouragement and offered to circulate petitions on the project’s behalf, she said.

”I’m kind of surprised (by the appeal) because we have tremendous backing,” Johnson said. ”What’s hard for us is we’re getting calls from men every day, wanting to get in programs, and this will leave them out in the cold longer.”