A new zoning bylaw which will move social services out of the downtown core recently received pushback from health and homelessness experts.
Shawn DeCaire, who manages the Kwesa Place drop-in centre, was the only public speaker at a recent public hearing for the bylaw. He says pushing support services out of the area will create more problems.
“If things do change, it’s not going to change the outcome of the appearance of what’s downtown,” he said. “It’s probably going to make it worse, because the people that the people who are down there respect won’t be there any longer.”
Charmaine Enns with Island Health also disagreed with the zoning proposal in a letter to council, warning it could impact vulnerable people living downtown.
“Eventual removal of these services and housing options will leave many without a place to reside as well as much needed health care and meal services. This may be consistent with the City”s definition of revitalization but it comes at a very high cost to some of Campbell River’s most vulnerable citizens and may in fact further suffering,” she said.
The bylaw says existing services will be allowed to stay where they are, unless they are vacant for more than six months, or if the building is taken down; then, their legal non-conforming status will no longer apply.
Council gave final approval to the bylaw at the November 21 meeting.
