By Curtis Galbraith

City Hall

More discussion coming on permanent supportive housing for Grande Prairie

Dec 15, 2020 | 3:41 PM

The city is still considering two possible sites for a new permanent supportive housing complex.

This would be a longer-term place to live for people with mental, physical and/or addiction problems.

One possible location is in the Gateway area near the new hospital, while the other is on 105 Avenue in the Avondale area.

Council approved zoning changes that would allow for such a building on the Gateway site at last night’s meeting.

Grande Prairie Mayor, Bill Given, is expecting a lot more discussion on this topic.

“Certainly, permanent supportive housing continues to be a contentious project. Ultimately, council will face a number of challenging decisions going forward where I’m sure there will be lots of debate and disagreement, but I think all council members recognize that there are steps (in) the process that need to be taken.”

Given says the discussion will not end when a site is picked.

“There will still be additional public processes. So, on permanent supportive housing, I think what you saw was a reflection of council recognizing that this is not a done deal. These are preliminary steps in order to advance the project forward.”

Given says those processes do allow for more public input.

“The zoning that we approved on the site in Westgate and the site in Avondale both made it so that city council is the development authority. (This) means that no building can be built on either site without there being a public hearing at a city council meeting.”

This facility would have staff on site 24 hours a day.

Residents near both sites have brought up concerns. People living close to the Avondale one and downtown business owners are worried about increased theft, drug use, and other crime.

A resident living close to the Gateway proposed site was also concerned about if residents had addictions issues and was asking about the safety of children that might be playing in a nearby park.