A local health care worker is looking to build an accessible facility to address the residential care shortage in Prince George.
The proposed 12-unit facility, which will repurpose two duplexes on Punchaw Crescent, passed the public hearing stage Monday night.
Eyob Abebe, works for Northern Health, which he said has expressed a concern over the lack of units and supports the plan.
"Community living has grown dramatically in recent years," he said which is especially necessary with a rapidly aging population.
"Northern Health recognizes the need and benefit of community living."
The approach means people can maintain maximum control over their lives while receiving some support, Abebe said, so they can "live as independently as possible."
About 20 people filled the public gallery for the hearing on the multiple resident rezoning application, including Abebe's colleagues, who spoke to his character and the gap in services in Prince George.
"We see it every day at work, the great need," said one nurse as her colleague, an acute care nurse, added she sees so many at the hospital who are in need of appropriate housing.
One resident spoke against the plan, as did three who submitted letters, voicing concern over increased traffic, noise and safety and that the facility wouldn't "mesh well" in the area.
Coun. Jillian Merrick said "there's no such thing" as a neighbourhood that is designated for one use, that a community's sick shouldn't be sidelined to any one area.
Healthy neighbourhoods have a balance of commercial, residential and different use facilities, she said.
Three staff are expected on site, said Abebe, but it depends on who lives in the home and what their support needs are.
The plan is to convert two existing three bedroom duplexes and make them wheelchair accessible, said Bruce Johnston of Access Engineering Consultants, so it shouldn't increase the existing occupancy.
"There's not a major development happening on this property. It's an existing duplex. It's on two properties," said Johnston, who added the plan is to convert each side into a six-person minor care facility with an elevator.
The purpose is to get people out of the hospital and back into the community, he said, and people shouldn't think of it as a care facility so much as a house.
A local physiotherapist, speaking in support of Abebe, said the hospital is always in over capacity, because the beds are occupied by people who should be in different facilities aimed at getting them back home or in residential care.
"Facilities like this are things that are needed in our community," the physiotherapist said, adding there aren't enough to fulfill the demand of the population
Coun. Brian Skakun called Abebe's plan "a good fit for the neighbourhood," and called on Northern Health to be more proactive with community dialogue and a plan instead of having one-off facilities like the application before council.
