Rutland community members turned out in droves last Sunday to protest the McCurdy Road supportive housing project.
Chants of 鈥渒eep Rutland safe鈥� 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.
鈥淭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,鈥� Chrissy Lwowski, a concerned resident at the protest.
This community member has this to say about the .
鈥� CaitlinClow (@caitleerach)
As cannabis retail stores need to be 150 metres away from elementary schools and 500 metres from high schools in 琉璃神社, opposed residents said those same rules should apply for wet houses that allow for consumption.
READ MORE: MLA urges a 鈥榩ause鈥� to controversial Rutland supportive housing project
鈥淭his is not an appropriate site,鈥� Lwowski said. 鈥淲e have not run out of land in 琉璃神社.
鈥淭he last we had all heard was this was a dry facility coming in, so we鈥檙e all pretty alarmed that it has come through the way that it has and we鈥檙e not OK with it.鈥�
The development was originally put forward by religious organization Freedom鈥檚 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鈥檚 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)
鈥淭his project is not the project it was,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o, it鈥檚 a tough decision.鈥�
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鈥檛 want it to be this close to the kids.
READ MORE: Petition started in protest of 琉璃神社鈥檚 McCurdy Road supportive housing
鈥淒rugs will go up, crime will go up, it鈥檚 a problem waiting to happen,鈥� Bocskei said.
鈥淲e鈥檙e trying to save our kids here, we鈥檙e trying to save our community.鈥�
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.
鈥淚t is incumbent on the operator, BC Housing and the province to ensure this functions successfully,鈥� responded Coun. Brad Sieben.
A was started and shared online June 21 and since then more than 2,600 people have signed it.
琉璃神社-Lake Country MLA Norm Letnick also called upon British Columbia鈥檚 Housing Minister Selina Robinson to 鈥減ause鈥� the project until issues in Heath House and Hearthstone 鈥� two other wet facilities 鈥� are resolved.
鈥淭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,鈥� 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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