Overdose prevention site, Park Street shelter extension going to Charlottetown council for decision
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CHARLOTTETOWN, P.E.I. — Charlottetown council will quickly determine whether or not to permit an overdose prevention website within the metropolis and lengthen Park Avenue shelter for one more yr. However that call will rely upon the province funding six law enforcement officials, rubbish assortment service within the space and wanted infrastructure modifications.
The planning board voted on Sept. 13 to ship two workers suggestions to council as resolutions, however they referred to as for extra long-term planning from the provincial authorities.
The Division of Housing and the Chief Public Well being Workplace’s hurt discount co-ordinator Shawn Martin every introduced to the board via a reside stream, and several other members of the general public spoke.
Coun. Julie McCabe, who sits on the board, says she worries concerning the province’s plan and gradual progress on addressing issues of safety on the Park Avenue shelter, which doesn’t have an operational hearth sprinkler system.
“How lengthy earlier than these come into conformity? I assume, and no disrespect, however I do know issues are likely to take a number of time after they get to your stage of presidency by the point they’re accomplished. Why is that this taking so lengthy?”
Jason Doyle, director of housing companies with the P.E.I housing company, mentioned the province goes to tender this week for a fireplace system. He additionally mentioned the province plans to develop a long-term plan for Park Avenue.
Non permanent variance
Councillors additionally spoke concerning the concern of allowing a short lived variance for a second time.
Metropolis planner Laurel Palmer Thompson advised the board that workers solely really useful extending Park Avenue’s non permanent variance due to extenuating circumstances: winter is coming, and folks want shelter.
Workers won’t suggest additional variances, although, as a result of one yr is the utmost.
The province has mentioned its objective — pending an environmental evaluation — is to centralize habit and homelessness companies at Park Avenue. However this might take an official plan modification, a growth plan submission and an modification to the Japanese Gateway Grasp Plan, which the property falls beneath, Palmer Thompson mentioned.
This course of might take six to eight months, she mentioned.
Satyajit Sen, a resident member of the board, requested Doyle and Martin concerning the timeline for increasing and making companies at Park Avenue everlasting.
As a member of a board that offers with land use, he worries the province won’t have their plans accomplished and formalized in time for subsequent yr’s deadline, which raises questions on persevering with companies at each places, he mentioned.
“We now have to comply with the method and consultations in altering of the bylaws,” he mentioned.
“We’re actually not contemplating what is going to occur to this inhabitants, ought to the allow expire. Additionally, the province shouldn’t be clear on their plan, long-term plan, what is going to occur afterwards ought to this metropolis permit this variance with the strict situation there is no such thing as a extension.”
Public enter
After provincial reps introduced, residents spoke about worries about elevated drug trafficking within the space, needle disposal in public locations, property worth and crime.
A number of mentioned they assist the overdose prevention website and shelter in precept however disagree with the situation close to residences or centralizing companies in a single space.
Town additionally acquired dozens of letters concerning the two proposals, with 10 letters towards, three impartial and 19 in assist.
In an interview after the assembly, Deputy Mayor Alanna Jankov mentioned the resolutions needs to be on the subsequent common council assembly on Oct. 9.
Logan MacLean is a municipal reporter with SaltWire in Prince Edward Island. He could be reached by electronic mail at [email protected] and adopted on X @loganmaclean94.
