Some residents are alarmed by potential plans to build a rehabilitation-type facility on Kaye Road in Nanoose Bay near Parksville.
They raised their objections at the Regional District of Nanaimo board's regular meeting on April 8.
The Delancey Street BC Foundation, a peer recovery program, wants to establish a facility geared towards assisting people leaving correctional facilities, the homeless, those addicted to drugs and alcohol and the disabled. It has partnered with Streetohome Foundation to introduce the Delancey Street style program to Vancouver Island.
The goal, said Streetohome Foundation president and chief executive officer, Rob Turnbull, during a presentation at the City of Nanaimo council meeting on Oct. 16, 2023, is to house people and teach them vocational, interpersonal and social skills, personal awareness, independent living skills, earned positive self-concept and accountability, responsibility and habits.
Turnbull had indicated in their newsletter they have purchased a 47-acre property for their plans and it will be located between Nanoose Bay and Parksville.
Residents living in the area say they were caught by surprised by the proposal. They appeared as delegation at the RDN meeting to air their objections. They urged the RDN not to endorse the creation of the facility.
Randy Althouse claimed the property is not zoned for Streetohome's plan as it is agricultural land and designated for farming.
"Why did they purchase (on) Kaye Road which is not zoned for this intended use?" said Althouse.
Another resident, Cindy Brown, said creating a rehabilitation facility in the Rivers Edge area raises concerns about community safety and its well-being.
"We are already a rural community facing real trauma," said Brown. "Just recently there was a violent home invasion and assault in our community. It took law enforcement a long time respond not out of neglect but because we are in a rural area of the region where police coverage is already stretched dangerously thin."
"The community has been left in the dark," continued Brown. "People are anxious, frustrated and fearful. Rivers Edge is a rural community of families and seniors. People who have chosen this place for its peace, safety and connection to nature. The proposed site is near busy trails and Top Bridge Park, one of our most beloved outdoor spaces frequently used by tourists, children and cyclists. The idea of placing a facility for 200 high-risk individuals withing walking distance of these areas without proper supervision or safeguards is deeply troubling."
Brown made it clear that their opposition to the plan is not a "rejection of those who need help."
"We support rehabilitation and re-integration but local location matters," she said. "A rural neighbourhood with no emergency infrastructure and the lowest RCMP coverage in the province is the wrong place for such a high-risk facility."
Nigel Gray detailed a home invasion that took place in San Pariel last March. The incident, he said, has stolen their "peaceful life" in their rural neighbourhood. Gray said the intruder threatened his life numerous times.
"The image of that shameless rage in that man's eyes will stick with me forever," said Gray. "There was no shame."
Gray mentioned another recent home invasion incident.
"That family will never be the same and they definitely got it worse than we did," said Gray. "Our community must take a hard stand against the transfer of urban issues to our quiet, rural neighbourhood. That thing that sticks out to me the most is that while we were screaming for help outside, our neighbours slept through the entire incident. That's the nature of living in a rural community. No one will hear you scream. No one will come to save you."
Gray urged the RDN board to do their due diligence before allowing rehabilitation facilities in the region and empathy for the constituents that they represent.
"Your responsibility is clear," he said. "Deny this inappropriate land use. Globally change all rural land uses to exclude additional halfway houses, drug treatment facilities and similar land uses within the RDN. I am as mad as hell and refused to be re-victimized by the people who are here to protect us."
The RDN's general manager for planning and development, Lisa Grant, informed the board they not received any building permit applications at this time.
"There is nothing before us to review or that is to be processed," said Grant. "What we have been advised by the agricultural land commission is that a non-farm application would be required for a vocational school or something that is outside the Agricultural Land Commission and Act and Regulations. We have not received any sort of application or referral at this stage."
At this time, we’re not in a position to discuss specific plans, as they are still in development. As we move closer to a launch date, we’ll have more to share and look forward to engaging the community in a thoughtful and transparent way.
Board member of Delancey Street BC, Kevin Bent, said at this time, they are not in position to discuss specific plans as they are still in development.
"As we move closer to a launch date, we’ll have more to share and look forward to engaging the community in a thoughtful and transparent way," said Bent.
Bent addressed what they feel is misinformation circulating in the community.
"To be absolutely clear: there is no illegal activity occurring at the property, and no programs are currently operating," said Bent. "Delancey Street BC owns the property and is in full compliance with all legal and regulatory requirements, including land maintenance. Any future activities at the site will follow appropriate legal channels and timelines."
Bent added, "Delancey Street BC is committed to transparency, accountability and community dialogue — once a formal, board-approved plan is in place. Unfortunately, the current campaign is not a good-faith effort to foster discussion, but rather an intentional attempt to mislead and incite fear."
For more about Delancey Street's mission and values, he advised people to visit their official website at delanceystreetbc.org.
