EX-COUNCILLORS COME OUT AGAINST RECOVERY HOME

Two former Richmond First councillors have come out against a
proposed group home for recovering addicts on Ash Street.

Kiichi Kumagai, who lost his seat in the last civic election, and Ken
Johnston, who ran on the same slate but was not elected, issued a
joint press release Wednesday opposing the Turning Point Society's
expansion plans.

It is not the proposal per se that Kumagai opposes, but the scale.

"It is the size. It is overkill," he said.

"Local residents in the Ash neighbourhood have a right to be
concerned," Johnston said in a press release. "Support is needed for
individuals with addiction problems, but putting such a large scale
institution in to the middle of a single-family community is simply
not appropriate."

Kumagai - who founded the pro-business, pro-development Richmond
First slate - said he was approached by residents living in the area
who fear they are not being heard.

Asked if his public stance on the recovery home is a signal he plans
on running in the November 2008 civic election, Kumagai said: "I
haven't made that decision."

Johnston, on the other hand, confirmed he is "certainly contemplating it."

Turning Point already operates a 10-bed group home for men on Odlin
Road. The society now wants to build another 10-bed home for men, a
10-bed home for women, and a 12-bed long-term support facility on a
half-acre of land at 8180 Ash St. The proposal requires a rezoning.

Although the densities proposed are consistent with the Official
Community Plan (densification has taken place in the area in the form
of townhouse development), 32 beds is three times as many as the
city's policy on group homes recommends.

A group home task force was struck in 2001 in response to the Odlin
Road recovery home for men, which generated considerable
neighbourhood opposition when it was proposed in 1999.

The task force came up with a policy of allowing group homes of seven
to 10 beds in residential neighbourhoods. It suggested locating them
at least 200 metres from new or existing facilities "as it ensures
that these facilities not be clustered in one area."

"The task force made a recommendation," Kumagai said. "They would
accommodate 10-bed group homes in single-family areas. This is an
institution. If you're going to put 32 beds in there, you're going to
have more traffic."

Ironically, Kumagai and Johnston agree with Coun. Harold Steves -
founder of the left-of-centre Richmond Citizens Association slate.
Steves, who chairs the city's planning committee, agrees the recovery
centre is too big and institutional for a residential neighbourhood.

Kumagai said he could support an institutional-size recovery centre
in an appropriate location. He cites city-owned property near No. 3
Road and Granville Avenue as an example.

Kumagai said there has been insufficient community consultation on
Turning Point's proposal, which he said has been presented as a "fait
accompli."

"Proper community consultation didn't come along until much later
into the ballgame and that skirts due process, pure and simple," Kumagai said.

He said only 10 residences neighbouring the proposed facility were
initially alerted of the plan. Turning Point executive director
Brenda Plant disputes the claim there hasn't been sufficient
community consultation.

"We notified the neighbours in April, and we did not go to the city
with our application till September," she said.

According to a Turning Point press release, the society first sent
out seven letters to homeowners in the immediate area in April, and
followed up with a wider mailout of 1,150 letters. It also convened a
community liaison committee. Plant added opponents of the proposal
have been invited to tour Turning Point's facilities.

"We've made several attempts to meet with people and they haven't
wanted to," she said.

The society pans to hold three open houses starting later this month.

The proposal is not scheduled to come before council until some time
before or after Christmas.