Rutland community members turned out in droves last Sunday to protest the McCurdy Road supportive housing project.

Chants of 害羞草研究所渒eep Rutland safe害羞草研究所� rang out from nearly 100 residents as cars drove by and honked in support.

Even passing police officers flicked on their patrol car sirens, tooted their horns and waved as they cruised by the fenced-off lot.

害羞草研究所淭he reason we are gathered here today is because we are against a facility that does not have rules around drug and alcohol consumption within the proximity of the schools,害羞草研究所� Chrissy Lwowski, a concerned resident at the protest.

This community member has this to say about the .

害羞草研究所� CaitlinClow (@caitleerach)

As cannabis retail stores need to be 150 metres away from elementary schools and 500 metres from high schools in Kelowna, opposed residents said those same rules should apply for wet houses that allow for consumption.

READ MORE: MLA urges a 害羞草研究所榩ause害羞草研究所� to controversial Rutland supportive housing project

害羞草研究所淭his is not an appropriate site,害羞草研究所� Lwowski said. 害羞草研究所淲e have not run out of land in Kelowna.

害羞草研究所淭he last we had all heard was this was a dry facility coming in, so we害羞草研究所檙e all pretty alarmed that it has come through the way that it has and we害羞草研究所檙e not OK with it.害羞草研究所�

The development was originally put forward by religious organization Freedom害羞草研究所檚 Door but failed to raise appropriate funding. The project was then passed on to BC Housing.

City council had approved the rezoning of the lot for the previously proposed project application, so could only vote on the form and character of BC Housing害羞草研究所檚 design before issuing, or denying, a development permit.

Coun. Charlie Hodge was the only councillor who put forth a protest vote against the project when the form and character of the development came before council on June 17. (See story A3)

害羞草研究所淭his project is not the project it was,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淪o, it害羞草研究所檚 a tough decision.害羞草研究所�

Christopher Bocskei, a coach, protest organizer, community volunteer and someone who has experienced homelessness, said he knows these facilities are necessary for addicts, vulnerable and at-risk individuals.

But he doesn害羞草研究所檛 want it to be this close to the kids.

READ MORE: Petition started in protest of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 McCurdy Road supportive housing

害羞草研究所淒rugs will go up, crime will go up, it害羞草研究所檚 a problem waiting to happen,害羞草研究所� Bocskei said.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e trying to save our kids here, we害羞草研究所檙e trying to save our community.害羞草研究所�

He suggested a better location for a facility this size and type would be more successful across the street from the RCMP detachment.

Bocskei said the 49-unit development offers 49 opportunities to have students exposed to, or perhaps even addicted to, substances.

害羞草研究所淚t is incumbent on the operator, BC Housing and the province to ensure this functions successfully,害羞草研究所� responded Coun. Brad Sieben.

A was started and shared online June 21 and since then more than 2,600 people have signed it.

Kelowna-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick also called upon British Columbia害羞草研究所檚 Housing Minister Selina Robinson to 害羞草研究所減ause害羞草研究所� the project until issues in Heath House and Hearthstone 害羞草研究所� two other wet facilities 害羞草研究所� are resolved.

害羞草研究所淭he people of Rutland are very generous and caring and have done more than their fair share when it comes to housing the hardest to house,害羞草研究所� Letnick said in his open letter.

A public information meeting will be held on June 26 at Rutland Centennial Hall, 5:30 p.m.

Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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