People want to help those who are struggling and they are not heartless when it comes to supportive recovery homes within Maple Ridge.
Just run the latter properly and put them in the right places, said a Maple Ridge resident who lives on 262nd Street.
“We just want to see them in proper areas and not see them pop up without any controls, at any time,” he said at Tuesday’s public hearing on the city’s proposal to regulate recovery homes.
The city is proposing a bylaw amendment that would require supportive recovery and transitional housing, assisted living and community care facilities to have a limit of 10 residents in residential areas and to be at least 250 metres from a school or daycare.
A housing agreement would also set noise levels, require 24-hour staffing and ban drugs and alcohol in houses that are treating people with addiction issues.
Speakers for and against such a bylaw were split.
But Mayor Nicole Read pointed out at the meeting that such homes are already allowed in the city and that Maple Ridge is just trying to regulate them further.
“I want that to be really clear for people – this is about more regulation. They’re currently in cities, including our city, but council is trying to put regulations around them.”
The idea of limiting the number of homes was also discussed, with staff to report back to council. Maple Ridge currently though doesn’t know how many such homes are in the city.
Former city councillor Judy Dueck proposed that a limit be based on Maple Ridge’s population.
And there have to be rules, which have to be followed, she added.
Marvin Cavanagh, with the Changing Addictive Attitudes Recovery Society, who runs six recovery homes in Vancouver, said there are rules at his homes.
“When you say regulate … yes, we have to regulate.
“You have to have people 24/7. There are rules and regulations.”
If police need to be called, they’re called, he added.
School trustee Susan Carr said Maple Ridge could set an example for other cities through its bylaw.
But, she added, the city has to have enough staff to properly regulate recovery homes.
“These types of facilities do need to be regulated. Many people here tonight, you probably have one next to you and you don’t even know it.”
Bob Asher, however questioned, the 250-m distance.
“The staff that are going to be there … are they qualified to be doing the very difficult job that they’re doing?”
City planning director Christine Carter said that if approved, the bylaw would allow more fsuch acilities to open and allow existing homes to sign operating agreements with the city.
Council will consider the input at the bylaw’s third reading.