The City of Maple Ridge wants to hear what the public thinks about its plans to put in some basic rules about supportive recovery homes, and it looked like it was going to get an earful Tuesday.
The public hearing was to take place in council chambers to a bylaw amendment that tries to regulate and possibly control the number of such homes in Maple Ridge.
The city, at this point, doesn’t know how many recovery homes there are within municipal boundaries.
On social media, both sides were being argued.
Some say people are using the issue as a way of continuing the debate on homelessness, while another questions why people would oppose recovery homes because they allow people a chance to try to overcome their addictions.
Coun. Craig Speirs said he expected people to show up at the hearing, noting it’s currently the people in the Whispering Falls suburb, east of 256th Street, who are concerned about a recovery home planned for their neighbourhood.
Speirs said he’s willing to listen to people’s concerns, providing they’re based on fact rather than hysteria.
But recovery homes are already in Maple Ridge and the city is just trying to regulate those that are here.
A half-page ad in The News informs people of the hearing and recaps the city’s proposals.
Coun. Tyler Shymkiw said he hopes the public shares its opinion with council.
He’s alone on council, though, in opposing the current method being considered by the city and which was the subject of Tuesday’s public hearing. That proposed bylaw change calls for a maximum of 10 residents in any recovery home located in a single-family home area.
Other requirements would be for the recovery homes to sign a housing agreement with the city, to have 24-hour staffing, a business licence and to go through a neighbourhood consultation process.
Shymkiw, though, favours the city just creating a zone for such recovery homes, which would mean applicants would have to go through a rezoning and public hearing.
Speirs said recovery homes are needed, although there are some that have not performed well.
“I’d like to drop that we’re a hate community. I’d much rather be a healing community.”