Dozens of Parksville residents spoke at a public hearing on Nov. 22, regarding a proposed zoning and bylaw amendment to allow a 19-bed addictions treatment centre downtown.
Island Health is seeking the amendment to establish the Centre Island Treatment Centre, proposed to be a voluntary-only facility located at 188 McCarter St. and offering a 90-day program for people over 19 years of age.
The amendment would add “or mental health and/or addictions treatment facility” to the statement of intent for the CD-10 zone. The statement of intent currently reads, “provides for an innovative seniors care facility development.”
Council listened to speakers for more than 90 minutes, with most stating a Parksville address, although people from other communities such as Coombs, Qualicum Beach, Snaw-Naw-As and Victoria also participated.
Parksville resident Lisa Stockton said she has worked at a treatment centre in Nanaimo for 23 years and wanted to dispel some myths about these facilities.
“Drug dealers don’t hang around our facility trying to sell drugs, but many have come for treatment and had their lives given back to them,” she said.
“Since we’ve opened thousands of people have gotten their lives back.”
Another local resident named Trevor said that if not for a recovery house in New Westminster, his life would be very different.
“I wouldn’t be the productive member of society I am in this town,” he said. “You’re looking at a product of a recovery house. I cleaned up 10 years ago, actually 11 years ago, on Dec. 17 it will be 11 years.”
The proposed centre’s location is not popular with the majority of downtown business owners, according to Teresa Cooper, executive director of the Parksville Downtown Business Association (PDBA).
READ MORE: Addictions treatment facility proposal advanced by Parksville council
Cooper said a November survey of the PDBA’s 288 members found 70 per cent are against the zoning and bylaw amendment.
The general manager of Berwick Parksville retirement community, across the street from the proposed treatment centre site, said he opposes the location.
“It is unfortunate that we have already had to advise residents to be extra cautious when walking in certain areas of the city,” said Nick Lynch. “Now the proposed addiction recovery facility presents yet another source of apprehension.”
Amir Hemani, CEO of Berwick Retirement Communities, also voiced his opposition to the location.
The owner of a nearby daycare centre, Kristy Crispin, said she believes the treatment centre will affect her business.
“As much as it’s a great facility and a great idea, the location is not because as of this date we do not have enough staff to go out to clean up the needles and all the stuff we already see,” said Crispin, owner of Little Gnomes Childcare.
Scott De Long made the drive from Victoria to lend his support to the zoning and bylaw amendment application. De Long is vice president of community health for the BC General Employees Union and works as a residential team lead for Island Health treatment programs in Victoria.
“I supervise three residential treatment programs and in the past decade the police were called once because we suspected someone was driving impaired,” he said, and added one of the residential programs is a block away from a Berwick retirement home.
“Let’s not confuse this with harm reduction, where there’s chaos,” De Long said. “This is treatment. These people coming are going to be screened by Island Health to make sure that they can live to community standards.”
The city received 56 pieces of correspondence, with 28 appearing in support, 26 appearing opposition and two that did not express clear support or opposition, according to Amanda Weeks, the City of Parksville’s manager of administrative services and corporate officer.
Island Health held two public open houses and other forms of community consultation this past summer.
Parksville council gave the bylaw amendment a second reading during its Oct. 16 meeting.
A third reading is required before final adoption can be given.
