A walking tour of Rutland with 琉璃神社 Mayor Colin Basran was cancelled on Tuesday, but a meeting with one concerned resident is still on.
A Nickel Road resident requested the mayor take a walking tour of the neighbourhood to see the impacts, he believed, the nearby Heath House supportive housing project has had on the community.
READ MORE: McCurdy project in Rutland gets go-ahead from 琉璃神社 councillors
鈥淭he mayor was aware of issues that have spilled into the neighbourhood and the city is working with BC Housing to address these issues and had agreed to walk around the neighbourhood today with several residents,鈥� City of 琉璃神社 communications consultant Marnie Douglas said.
鈥淯nfortunately, what was supposed to be a walking tour of the Heath House neighbourhood with a few residents changed into a larger debate about the proposed supportive housing project on McCurdy Road,鈥� Douglas said. 鈥淪o, Mayor Basran rescheduled.鈥�
The community of Rutland has stepped up in the hundreds to protest another facility that has broken ground on McCurdy Road. BC Housing鈥檚 鈥渨et鈥� facility has raised the volume in the community about neighbourhood crime, increased drug use and sales and other safety concerns.
READ MORE: McCurdy Road supportive housing could break ground this summer
The 49-unit supportive housing development is to be operated by the 琉璃神社 branch of the Canadian Mental Health Association.
Neighbours are upset, as they were opposed to the first project slotted for the lot on 130 McCurdy Road 鈥� a dry facility run by religious organization Freedom鈥檚 Door.
The City of 琉璃神社 councillors had rezoned the site deeming it appropriate for that project, but when Freedom鈥檚 Door failed to raise the appropriate funding, it was purchased by BC Housing and without any public consultation, the proposal was brought before councillors for approval based on the form and character.
A protest on Sunday at the construction site drew out a large crowd of more than 100 people chanting 鈥渒eep Rutland safe!鈥� and holding signs saying 鈥淩utland isn鈥檛 Basran鈥檚 dumping ground.鈥�
琉璃神社-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick sent an open letter to B.C. Housing Minister Selina Robinson to 鈥減ause鈥� the project until issues surrounding other supportive housing have been solved, including the Heath House on Highway 97.
A to stop the McCurdy housing project and in only a few days, more than 2,900 people have signed it.
READ MORE: Petition started in protest of 琉璃神社鈥檚 McCurdy Road supportive housing
The mayor has rescheduled an appointment with the concerned resident to be held in person at City Hall at a later date.
A public information night is scheduled tomorrow at the Rutland Centennial Hall at 5:30 p.m.
Another protest is scheduled for this upcoming Sunday outside of the McCurdy Road project.
Caitlin.clow@kelownacapnews.com
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