Concerns over proposed recovery homes heard at packed Yorkton city council meeting

Yorkton residents packed city hall as council debated two proposed addiction recovery facilities from Poundmaker’s Lodge.

The Yorkton council chamber was filled Monday evening as city council considered two applications tied to Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centre’s (PLTC) plans to establish post-treatment addiction recovery facilities in the city.

The new addictions facilities have been a talking point over the past month, as residents were upset by the proposed locations and lack of public consultation.

• Yorkton residents want answers on proposed post-treatment centre

The province had put out a request for proposals, which PLTC applied for. PLTC was granted 11 post-treatment spaces for the Yorkton community, which they are now trying to establish.

As part of the process, their proposal was presented to city council on Monday. However, no one from PLTC was present at the meeting.

“Two separate properties are zoned differently, so they wanted to kind of amend the zoning bylaw,” Yorkton Deputy Mayor Darcy Zaharia said.

Both properties are located in predominantly residential areas and subsequently attracted high public interest, with many residents attending the council meeting to hear about the proposals for 7 Driftwood Crescent and 395 Riverview Road.

7 Driftwood Crescent

The issue first garnered significant attention in June when residents near the Driftwood Crescent location spotted a pickup truck with a “Poundmaker’s Lodge Treatment Centres” logo parked in the driveway of a recently sold residential property in their neighbourhood.

“I love the character of the neighbourhood. We have a beautiful grass base. There’s two schools, daycares. It’s just a really beautiful place to live, and I feel safe with my family here,” Jorgia Andres, one of the residents, told CTV News shortly afterward. “It’s a little bit uncomfortable when a big change like that is happening in your residential area, [because] it could really change things.”

At the time, the City of Yorkton said it had had some informal conversations with PLTC, but officials said they did not know much more than residents. It was known that PLTC had purchased two properties in Yorkton in May / June.

In a June statement sent to CTV News, Brad Cardinal, executive director of the Battlefords Treatment Centre, said the safety of all parties, including PLTC residents and members of the neighbourhood, remains a top priority.

“The homes operate with a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week on-call monitoring system, complemented by exterior security cameras to help maintain a safe and secure environment,” Cardinal said.

Beyond the general purpose, not many details were revealed about the facility.

In Poundmaker’s application, recently made available to the public, it is stated that 7 Driftwood Crescent was intended to be a recovery home for up to six women.

The application stated that women leaving treatment often face significant barriers, including limited support networks, lack of safe and affordable housing, and an increased risk of relapse.

In Poundmaker’s application, it pointed out the facility would allow peer support, which is “widely recognized as one of the most effective components of long-term recovery.”

Michael Eger, Yorkton’s director of planning, building and development, prepared reports for each of the two properties, which he presented at the council meeting.

He said that 7 Driftwood Crescent was “constructed as a single detached dwelling,” and is currently zoned R-1.

As per Bylaw No. 14/2003, this zone is intended “to establish and preserve neighbourhoods of primarily single detached dwellings, on standard small- to medium-sized lots, while allowing for a mix of other compatible accessory uses.”

In its report, city administration noted that Poundmaker’s Lodge referred to its proposed use as a “Sober Living Home,” which the city determined most closely aligns with the health services definition. This use is not included in the uses outlined by the zoning bylaw.

Eger noted that while there is a need for post-treatment services in the community, there is also a high demand for housing.

“Single detached homes have been selling at a price and pace that has not been seen in Yorkton since at least 2014,” the report read. “With the price of new construction remaining out of reach for many, there is pressure on the existing market to support the housing needs of the community.”

• Download the CTV News app to get breaking news alerts sent to your device

Following an eight-point administrative review, available on Yorkton’s website, administration concluded there are better locations for addiction support services than a residential neighbourhood in close proximity to two schools.

Eger pointed out that the city did not receive written correspondence from Poundmaker’s prior to the purchase of the properties and that administration had cautioned Poundmaker that rezoning might not be approved, in which case the property would be unsuitable for its intended purpose.

Answering a question from Coun. Stephanie Ortinsky, Eger said he was aware of a similar situation that had unfolded in another community.

“The funding was awarded and then the group has sought to come into the community, and not always in the order in which we would have preferred it to happen,” Eger responded.

Coun. Randy Goulden wanted to know if the recovery home would have 24-hour supervision by a recovery coach, but Eger could not specify based on PLTC’s application.

Following the question period, council members unanimously voted in line with administration’s recommendation and rejected Poundmaker’s application to rezone 7 Driftwood Crescent.

395 Riverview Road

The second location PLTC has selected as the site of its Yorkton offices and a second recovery home is known locally as “The Rock” building, the former home of a local radio station.

As such, the property is zoned neighbourhood commercial, or C-4, with the purpose of accommodating facilities that serve the day-to-day needs of residents in a neighbourhood, including health services.

PLTC plans to use the property for two purposes.

Its offices would offer recovery coaching, planning and support, as well as case management and community-based programming, including AA meetings.

The recovery home, unlike the Driftwood Crescent location, is not gender-specific and would house up to six adult residents.

Eger’s report pointed out that, according to The Planning and Development Act, relevant city staff “shall” issue a development permit as it’s zoned correctly to the intended use. Failing to do so may result in legal action against the city.

Despite its current zoning status, The Rock building is located in close proximity to a residential area, and the suggestion to allow for the facility to move in upset many of the residents who were present at the council meeting.

Following the presentation, Coun. Greg Litvanyi proposed postponing the decision to grant a permit until Aug. 10, when members of the public and the applicants alike could voice their opinions.

Coun. Dustin Brear wanted to know if council could hear from PTLC in person.

“They were actually scheduled to be here tonight,” Eger said. “Then, fairly last minute, I would say, [they] indicated that they would not be in attendance.”

Eger pointed out that while council can welcome public opinion, the municipality does not have the tools to accommodate those opinions in the decision-making process because the building is properly zoned for the proposed use.

“This is by far the most concern I’ve ever seen about any specific development in the City of Yorkton for over 18 years now,” Eger said. “I would caution against any kind of overpromising what that public hearing would deliver for the people who are speaking.”

Soon after, councillors unanimously voted to hear from both the public and PLTC.

“We just made the motion to table it, to hear from the purchaser so they can explain to the public and to us what their plans are for the property,” Deputy Mayor Zaharia told CTV News. “And the people [from] the surrounding community around that property can also voice their concerns as well.”

Once the meeting was over, a group of concerned residents stayed behind at Yorkton City Hall to discuss the decision. While none of them wanted their names published, they told CTV News they were deeply upset with the decision and were left with dozens of questions regarding the day-to-day operations of the Poundmaker’s facility, as well as of public safety.

CTV News reached out to Poundmaker’s Lodge for comment but had not received a response by the time of publication.