Neighbours of the former Haldi Road elementary school turned out in force to witness city council approve the first step towards allowing a rehabilitation facility in their neighbourhood.
An application for a zoning change and Official Community Plan amendment to allow for the Northern Supportive Recovery Centre passed first and second reading Monday night.
Coun. Brian Skakun opposed the recommendation.
This is the second time the proposed 30-bed women's facility has come to council after the initial approval in December 2011 was struck down, following a successful legal challenge brought about by an area resident.
A Supreme Court judge rule the zoning change approved by council - to go from a rural residential to therapeutic community - was inconsistent with the city's official community plan.
The fact that the new application now contains that necessary OCP amendment doesn't sit well with those living in the Leslie Road community.
"The official community plan was just adopted last year and now they're amending it already. It's supposed to be good for five to 10 years before review, but htey seem to think it has to be amended already," said Haldi area spokesperson Laura Jagodnik.
The change to the OCP would allow for "temporary housing for vulnerable populations" in residential areas as well as include references for special needs housing as opposed to just affordable housing.
The group wasn't surprised that the application has passed first and second reading - which moves it to the public consultation stage - but was disappointed there wasn't more debate.
"As far as we're concerned, our concerns have not been answered," said Jagodnik, adding that the members of the group she represents have had not contact with the proponents. "We will be going around door-to-door and getting people's advice and views and I believe that these views will be more opposed because it's an actual amendment of the OCP and we've been contacted by residents outside of the Haldi Road area stating the fact that his is crazy what the city is doing to us."
In the new application, the zoning change is site specific to allow a facility for the "supportive residential care of up to 30 persons, where residents are not related by blood or marriage (excluding children)" on the 5877 Leslie Rd. property.
"To us, it's still a spot zoning," Jagodnik said. "We will be taking this to our lawyer, so we'll be receiving legal council."
Legal advice was also sought by Mayor Shari Green on the matter. During the initial application, she recused herself from the decision, citing a conflict of interest due to a close relationship with the centre's former project manager. Marshall Smith was a key member of Green's election campaign.
"Because those facts have changed, I am no longer in conflict and will be participating in this discussion," she said.
The public meeting required for the change to the official community plan will take place in the second week of January, around the 9th or 10th in the Leslie Road area, said director of planning Ian Wells. The rezoning will come to a public hearing at council no earlier than the Feb. 4 meeting.
"We're curious about what the public consultation and the public meeting will entail," said Jagodnik. "If we give our input, will it be properly addressed, if council will actually take it seriously or if it's just part of the whole procedure. And we feel that in the past, that's all it's been - just a checklist."
