Elliot Lake City Council has turned down zoning changes that would have permitted two houses acquired by Elliot Lake Women's Group Inc. to be operated as multiple residences in city residential neighbourhoods.
If they had been approved by council, new zoning for the two homes would have allowed the operators of the Maplegate women's shelter on Mississauga Avenue to expand at the new locations.
The changes were sought for a women's residence which has been operating at 143 Frobel Drive and a men's home that has been running at 7 Diefenbaker Court, both without proper zoning.
Both facilities have been running for months. Their establishment preceded Maplegate's application to council to approve zoning changes needed to legally permit them in residential areas.
Council's rejection was near-unanimous and came after more than an hour's debate at their virtual meeting Monday night.
Maplegate Executive Director Melody Rose described the men's residence on Diefenbaker as a public health model where naloxone kits are available in the event of drug emergencies.
She insisted neither facility permits illegal drug abuse on-site and neither could be regarded as a public injection site.
Rose added that residents seeking illegal drugs are encouraged to use them off-site in safe locations.
In response to public comments submitted prior to the meeting, Mayor Dan Marchisella said although he and Councillors Luc Cyr and Norman Mann are board members of the Algoma District Social Administration Board (ADSAB), it poses no conflict with their interests as councillors.
He insisted none of them has any pecuniary interest in the Elliot Lake Women's Group Inc., which operates Maplegate and a separate centre on Lawrence Road.
A consultant from JR Richards in Sudbury, Sarah Vereault, said more work needs to be done at both of the planned residences before they can conform to fire and building code requirements.
"I just don't agree with this being done in this way. I do agree that we need shelters and transitional housing in the municipality," said Coun. Chris Patrie. "But I don't think this should be in semi-detached homes that have a 15-foot wide front yard or a single family on a street. It's just that they weren't designed for these types of uses."
"This has become a very sensitive matter in the municipality and there is a lot of frustration and anger about it," said Coun. Mann. "But it doesn't change the fact there are rules the municipality must follow. I believe we made it clear the last time when we made the approvals for both homes, 'Please do it properly the next time.'"
"I cannot support this rolling forward until the people that live in that neighbourhood have some kind of comfort," said Coun. Sandy Finamore.
Coun. Luc Cyr said, "I think there's a problem in the relationship. There's a problem having a proper relationship in place, having proper oversite and city interests in place."
"I don't see staff. I don't see any programs in place. I don't see harm reduction in place," added Coun. Tom Turner.
Over 130 people living in the Frobel neighbourhood signed a petition urging council to oppose the zoning amendment on their street.