RECOVERY USE HOUSES DENIED LICENCES, AGAIN

Operators of three supportive recovery use houses were denied business
licences for the second time at an executive city council meeting last
week.

The homes, on Melmar Avenue, Babich Street and Lilac Crescent, were
three of seven supportive recovery use homes that were originally
denied operation during a council meeting on June 16.

With the three appeals in hand, city staff did some additional work on
what caused the three homes to fail the application process in the
first place, said city manager Frank Pizzuto.

After assessing the homes, council members still felt the three
locations did not meet the established criteria - meaning the houses'
locations are either too close to schools or situated too close
together in one neighbourhood.

"So the status quo continues, and what's in place will stay in place,"
said Pizzuto.

Council also confirmed that the three agencies, as well as any other
agency that has had its applications denied, will have to wait one
year until they can reapply for a licence.

"The locations of these homes have been a pretty touchy issue with a
lot of residents and it has taken quite a bit of time for council to
be able to properly regulate them, so council's intent is to continue
to reinforce the regulations," said Pizzuto.

Council has worked to create a policy to regulate the operation of
recovery houses, which aim at helping the city's recovering addict
population, since 2001 - after the provincial government dropped the
program.