Council to hold public hearing on supportive housing project
By Al Beeber - Lethbridge Herald on August 30, 2023.
LETHBRIDGE HERALDabeeber@lethbridgeherald.com Lethbridge city council on Tuesday in a makeshift chambers gave first reading to a land use bylaw amendment which will enable Lethbridge Housing Authority to build a supportive housing development on Stafford Drive North.The special meeting of council was held in the basement of City Hall due to renovations of council chambers on the main floor.
Council voted unanimously to move the amendment to a public hearing that will be held Sept. 19 at 3 p.m. in council chambers.
Six members of council were present either in person or via video link.
Not present were deputy mayor John Middleton-Hope and councillors Nick Paladino and Rajko Dodic.
Bylaw 6411 specifically addresses 416 Stafford Drive North which is a vacant property. The amendment would change the land use classification of the property to Direct Control from General Commercial.
Lethbridge Housing wants to develop a facility with 30 supportive units as well as a pharmacy and medical clinic on the site. Supportive housing isn’t allowed under the present zoning.
The City says the 25-unit limit in the standard definition of supportive housing is thought to have been based upon a provincial definition which is no longer in use. By allowing LHA to have more than 25 units, that organization will be able to maximize the benefit it can provide, according to a presentation made to council.
Acting mayor Ryan Parker, who chaired the brief meeting, told a small audience that first reading doesn’t show council’s support for the motion but merely moves it along to the hearing stage where the public will be able to speak their support or opposition to the amendment.
LHA CAO Robin James said after the meeting said her organization is hopeful that the motion will pass so “that we can start making some impact in our homeless population.”
James said she expects people, including some who don’t live in the area of the proposed unit, to attend the hearing.
“We do have a great amount of support from many people,” the CAO added.
The facility will look basically like a seniors lodge,” and will provide people with safe and secure housing.
James said there are about 40 people in the city afflicted with FASD who are living unhoused and the new facility would give an opportunity to house a portion of them.
“This will give us an opportunity to get them off the streets and get them safely housed,” added James.
LHA hosted a community consultation at the Southern Alberta Ethnic Association and got support from those who attended.
James said the biggest opposition of such facility comes from a lack of understanding.
“I think that the situation that happened in our community with the supervised consumption site really created a lot of fears in people, and rightfully so. But this isn’t the situation with this particular build,” said James, adding the project is focused on recovery and keeping people safe and secure.
James said the facility will be huge for the city. This facility will be the first to be built. LHA believes more such projects will be needed in the city but the authority wanted to make sure it was getting the right size for what it needed to do.
“We wanted to make sure we had the providers in place that could make a difference.” Follow @albeebHerald on Twitter 4
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