Kelowna Mayor Colin Basran

(ROB MUNRO / iNFOnews.ca)

KELOWNA - Mayor Colin Basran approached the provincial government this past weekend trying to heal divisions in the community, not to muffle the outcry from 13,000 Kelowna residents who signed a petition.

He spoke to iNFOnews.ca today, July 16, after calling for a special council meeting on the McCurdy Road supportive housing project for tomorrow, saying he is in discussions on alternatives to the project with Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing, Selina Robinson.

But he only made the call to Robinson this weekend, just after the petition campaigners tallied more than 14,000 signatures against the project, including 12,984 from Kelowna residents.

“I wouldn’t say the petition was a direct cause of reaching out to the minister, no,” Basran said. “I think it was just trying to find a path forward, trying to bring the community together, because it’s divided in regards to this issue and this project.”

Basran would not talk about what options he will be discussing with Robinson. That will have to wait until tomorrow’s meeting. But some critics are calling for affordable housing instead of housing the homeless while others simply don't want homeless residents to be allowed to use drugs and alcohol. 

Council approved a development permit for the project on June 17, with only Coun. Charlie Hodge voting against it. That triggered a push back from Rutland residents who said there are too many supportive housing projects in, or planned for, Rutland.

They also objected to the fact residents will be able to use drugs and/or alcohol in their homes and it is too close to schools.

Critics hope councillors will pass a motion to reconsider the existing development permit and rezoning in order to put pressure on B.C. Housing to guarantee a change in tenancy.

That would require four other councillors to join Hodge in his opposition to the project. Wednesday is the 30-day deadline for council to reconsider its approval of the zoning and permit.

The zoning only determines the size and type (residential, commercial, etc) of building that can go on that site while the development permit regulates the form and character of the building. Council does not have the power to regulate the type of people who live there.

Depending on how the boundaries are defined, Rutland has five of the nine housing complexes of this nature in Kelowna – meaning they are “low barrier” facilities to house the homeless where they have the freedom to consume substances in their own rooms or in supervised injection rooms on site.

New Gate, on Rutland Road, opened in 2012 with 49 beds. Hearthstone – which is west of Highway 97 so technically not in Rutland, opened in October, 2018 with 46 beds while Heath House, on the east side of Highway 97 opened in January with 40 beds.

Excavation work has already begun for the 49-room McCurdy project. It was formerly the home of the Knights of Columbus Hall. Two years ago, that organization had applied to B.C. Housing for funding for a recovery home for addicts but was denied.

Still to come is a 50-room proposed facility on McIntosh Road, near Rutland Centennial Park. A development permit is expected to come to city council soon, possibly at its next regular meeting on July 29.

Basran said his discussions with Robinson do not include McIntosh and the petition is specific to McCurdy.

Downtown, Cardington Apartments, with 30 units, opened on St. Paul Street in 2008 and Willowbridge transitional housing, with 40 units, opened in 2010.

Gordon Place, in the Capri area, opened in 2016 with 44 units and Agassiz, behind Orchard Plaza mall, is not yet built.

A 10th project, Now Place on Tutt St. has been open since 2011 but is only 29 units and only for women, some with children, who are not eligible if they are using drugs or alcohol.

There are other, smaller, facilities in the city as well.

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