Councillor Bestwick Asks
Council To Reconsider Uplands Site
Follows is a transcript of Councillor Bestwick's address to city council, Oct. 31, 2011, on the topic of the low barrier housing project on Uplands Drive.
Firstly, I wish to express my gratitude to all members
of our community who have participated in the provision of Social Services
within the City of Nanaimo by way of email, phone and other
methods.
Secondly, I wish to correct those members of the community
who have the notion that I am opposed to Supportive Housing in the City of Nanaimo.
That notion is simply not true or accurate and has been misrepresented
through the media, including the social media.
Let me clarify my position. And this position has been consistent and not
‘flip – flopping’ or ‘pandering for votes’ or ‘popularity’ as has been
suggested by some.
I am 100% in favor of supportive housing and have
proven this with my votes to support the 18 unit Tillicum Tse Lelum project on 10th Street with the provision to house elders and
youth at risk in a medium to high barrier environment.
I am 100% in favor of supportive housing on Wesley
Street for 35 – 40 low barrier clients who will have in the immediate vicinity
convenient access and disposal to absolutely necessary services, including but
not limited to needle exchange program, a methadone clinic, walk in medical
services, the Salvation Army kitchen and meal program, the 7/10 Club and
outreach services located nearby.
I am 100% in favor of the of the Supportive Housing on
the corner of Bowen and Meredith operating as affordable housing with
independent living for low income families.
I am equally supportive of the Supportive Housing development within 2 Blocks
of the Uplands site, allowing families or less fortunate members of our
community to live in affordable housing.
My position with specific respect to the Uplands site
has been consistent, dating back to October of 2010 when the Uplands site was
introduced and voted on In Camera. And
withheld from public per vue until released to the public from In Camera. This did not happen until 11 months later (September
20, 2011). Well before a Concerned Citizens Committee or
any committees for or against the project were mobilized.
My opposition is NOT against Supportive Housing in Nanaimo.
My opposition is with regard to the Process, the lack
of Public Consultation, the size of the operation and the composition of the
clients or tenants as proposed.
Process. The
process, for the lack of a better term has not been ‘transparent’ let me
elaborate.The Memorandum of
Understanding between BC Housing Management Commission and the City of Nanaimo regarding the development of sites for
supportive housing states,
26 Public Consultation
BC Housing and the Municipality will work together
jointly in delivery of any and all media releases and public information.
Upon approval of the Memorandum of Understanding and
the Municipal/Province partnership by Council, the development of the
supportive housing will be processed in accordance with the Municipality’s
Development and Building Permit Process.
Where required by regular development approval
process, the Society will present the proposed Building for consideration at a
public information meeting where the
public will be able to speak to any issues or concerns they may have.
Neighborhood and community
responses as a result of the Public Information meeting will be received by the
Municipality and forwarded, with recommendations, to the Sponsor and BC Housing
for consideration in development of the Buildings.
Did these Public Information
Sessions take place?
As well, the published sites from the original
Memorandum of Understanding did NOT
include the Uplands property and therefore the necessity and at the very least
the moral obligation to inform the neighborhood through a Public Information
Meeting should have occurred.
Public Consultation.
In June 2009 the City established a Community
Engagement Strategy for Nanaimo Supportive Housing Projects. And I quote, “The proponents, led by the
City, wish to develop and implement a Community Engagement Strategy to provide
the necessary information and opportunities for dialogue, before and during the development process.
The Strategy
has 7 key guiding principles, of which an Introductory
Overview…Neighborhood Meetings and Neighborhood Updates are identified as core
to the success of the project through good communication and dialogue.
Was this community engagement
strategy offered?
Also, the Nanaimo’s
Response to Homelessness Action Plan prepared for the City of Nanaimo in July of 2008 Action 6 – FACILITATE
COMMUNITY ACCEPTANCE states, “Facility community acceptance will be key
to the effective implementation of the Action Plan. Some examples of recommended steps include,
- Early engagement, in advance of any announcements of sites or funding
- Communication with the public, neighbors, businesses, agencies and service providers on aspects of plan implementation on an ongoing basis and
- Establishing good neighborhood agreements..
And finally, Proactive
engagement with neighborhoods. It is
recommended that a series of neighborhood meetings be conducted PRIOR to ANY
announcements about site locations.
Did this happen?
In closing your Worship, I am convinced that not a
single person in this room or citizen of the City of Nanaimo, is NOT in favor of supportive housing,
including myself.
However, I am equally convinced that the placement of Buildings,
the Size of the operations, the composition of the tenants and the immediate
availability of necessary services are necessary for successful operations.
This is not a one size fits all initiative. All sites are not prepared equally or optimum
for the desired outcome. Consideration
for impact on neighbors, business, schools are well documented in all reports
for success. I simply urge Council to
reconsider this location, engage the community and minimize the impact
Your Worship, I am certain that if the proposed
operation for Uplands was transparent and the end use was a model similar to
Tillicum Tse Lelum or Fairway Woods, we would not be in this dilemma.
For those reasons your Worship I wish Council to
re-examine alternative sites and/or the scope of the project to be built on the
Uplands site, with the understanding
funding is in place from the Province and the site specific size and tenant mix
will be known to the neighborhood.
Thank you for your patience and indulgence.
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