ZONING NO OBSTACLE

Re: "Methadone clinic threatens to close doors," April 14.

The city recently determined that the Second Chance Recovery (SCR)
methadone treatment clinic must relocate by June 30 from its
northeast industrial location due to inappropriate zoning. The clinic
has approximately 500 clients who are struggling to overcome their
chemical addictions.

The program offers hope to overcome dependency sickness with the
ultimate goal of becoming more productive members of society. Without
the treatment program, clients become susceptible and the community
at large is subject to risk of increased crime, the need for higher
levels of policing and health-care servicing, and greater numbers of
street persons, vagrancy and panhandling, as a direct result of
individuals needing to feed their drug dependency.

The city has zoning language alternatives to prevent SCR's forced
relocation. The current zoning category of the clinic's location
could be amended to permit a methadone clinic use, or the site could
be spot-zoned to allow a medical clinic. The entire issue resides
with one of community leadership and compassion, in doing what is
best in the big picture for Calgary and in helping those in need. How
big is the city's heart in helping others in the context of Calgary
proclaiming to be the Heart of the New West?

Robert Ross, Calgary