A hearing into the legality of council's most recent decision regarding the former Haldi elementary school has begun.
On Tuesday, B.C. Supreme Court Justice Ron Tindale heard from Roy Stewart who is representing petitioners against the vote allowing the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre for Women to go ahead. At least a dozen residents filled the courtroom's gallery to hear the proceedings.
The lawsuit, led by Haldi area resident Tore Pettersen, is asking the court to declare the April council decision to amend the official community plan to allow the rezoning of 5877 Leslie Road invalid.
Among the claims in the petition is that the amendments are inconsistent with OCP policies affecting rural residential land and that the inconsistencies continue with the approval of an "institutional" 30-bed women's therapeutic facility.
"What is proposed is as different from rural residential as can be," Stewart said. "It doesn't, I submit, recognize or provide any means of furthering residential use in this area."
