Applicants Dan Zuffa and Drew Moore were in attendance.
Highlights of the planners presentation include:
- Subject property is a duplex located in Westbank Centre;
- Current Zoning: Westbank Central Compact Residential Zone (RC1);
- Current OCP Designation: Westbank Centre Low-Density Residential (WCLDR);
- Proposal is requesting a Temporary Use Permit to allow a group home in a RC1 zone;
- Both sides of the duplex will act as the group home with no major alterations;
- Zoning bylaw (RC1) does not permit proposed use;
- An updated parking plan is required;
- Applicant is enrolling with the Assisted Living Registry of British Columbia;
- The public will have the opportunity to submit feedback for Council's consideration as part of the public notification process;
- Council may consider conditions on the issuance of the Temporary Use Permit.
Highlights of the applicants presentation include:
- The subject property is a transition program with a difference;
- The subject property will be a Community Based Residential Facility with a supervision order and monitored through community parole officers;
- Personnel will have "lived experience" and emphasis on therapeutic work;
- Program foundations are the priority of resident and community safety, focus on responsibility of citizenship, utilization of community supports and programs and teaching of skills for success;
- Program oversight and accountability through Correctional Service of Canada, Community based parole supervision and Assisted Living Registry of British Columbia;
- Process includes: resolve zoning, approval through Correctional Services of Canada, register with Assisted Living Registry of British Columbia, host an open house and then open the doors to receive residents.
Questions on the presentation:
- How many homes are currently operating? None;
- Will this be a dry house? Yes;
- Who is going to be in the house? Unknown at this time. Will depend on agreement with corrections;
- Are there any statistics on police calls or disturbance? None available at this time;
- What would be the turnover of the people at the house per year? Would depend on the program and parole conditions;
- Are there residents in the duplex at this time? Yes, three people;
- Are the current residents aware that evictions are coming? Yes, tenants are aware;
- Are clientele from Corrections Canada local? More than likely limited to the Province of BC and the Interior;
- What zoning would this fall under? Group home use is permitted in our multi-unit zones (i.e., R3, R4, and R5);
- How was this location chosen? The property was zoned for care facility, was ignorant on permitted use. Renovations have occurred on the property and it is now ready to be used;
- Has there been any feedback from the sign posted on the property? Yes, the City has received approximately 40 emails and 12 phone calls of concerns from the community;
- Difference in designation from care facility and group home? Group home is defined to include room and board for clients with physical, mental, social, or behavioural problems that require professional care and is licensed through the Community Care and Assisted Living Act; Care facility is limited to supervision services only and has limited overnight accommodations;
- Do we have anything like this currently in the City of West Kelowna? Unknown at this time. Would be identified through business licences, otherwise the use is permitted in various zones - no rezoning or TUP required;
- Why is the application for a Temporary Use Permit vs. Rezoning? Temporary Use Permit is temporary and can be used to test the suitability of a use prior to rezoning, which would otherwise permit the use in perpetuity.
Highlights of the discussion include:
- The applicant has indicated that they want this to be a permanent use vs. temporary;
- Was hoping to have more information on the number of complaints on halfway houses in the province - paramount issue to diffuse neighbour concerns;
- A Temporary Use Permit would permit anything in the definition of group home. People need second chances, but more information on the type of people coming would provide the residents more information to understand the use occurring in their community;
- Main concern is that there is a shortage of housing in the city and we’re going to bring in others from outside the area;
- We are not given enough information on the effects of having this use in neighbourhoods (positive or negative). Would like to know more about success rates. Would like to understand a bit more about impacts from other examples;
- Must be clear that it’s for the betterment of the community;
- Can tell the applicant is passionate.