GROUP HOMES TASK FORCE SUBMITS REPORT

Council asks city staff to review legalities of separating drug and alcohol
group homes from other facilities in bylaw

The debate on whether Richmond should allow group homes for people
recovering from drug and alcohol addictions into its neighbourhoods has
never been easy in the city.

And discussion on the topic at Monday night's meeting of the city's general
purposes' committee was no exception.

Over the course of two hours, several members of the city's group-home task
force, and some members of the public, made presentations to council on the
strengths and failings of a new three-page report which outlines a formal
means of dealing with the contentious issue.

For supporters, like task force member Alexander Kostjuk, the report
finally gives a voice to residents who want a say in how and what kind of
group homes are approved.

"This gives you a process," Kostjuk said, urging council to accept the report.

"It doesn't take away or give you all the answers, but it does put in place
a process where the community can come to you with input."

Under the report - which was commissioned by the city earlier this year as
the result of fierce public debate on the issue - neighbours within a
five-house radius of a proposed residential group home would be notified in
writing of a licence application.

The residents would be encouraged to give their input on how its approval
would affect them.

The city and Richmond Health Services would also be required to hold an
informal neighbourhood meeting to impart information and address possible
concerns.

The task force which put together the report has recommended that the term
"residential care facility" be added to the zoning bylaw and defined as a
group home for seven to 10 people. Under the bylaw, the homes would be
allowed in any zone permitting residential use, and that they be no closer
than a minimum of 200 metres from another care home or facility.

But some already feel the report doesn't give concerned citizens the power
to stop an unwanted group home from coming into their neighbourhood, or
even provide enough of a buffer between certain homes and schools, parks or
playgrounds.

John Wong - the only member of the task force to refuse to sign-off on the
report - spoke his objections to council on behalf of the Oak Residents
Association.

"I don't think it addresses the concerns that we first came on board for,"
Wong said.

In particular, Wong said his association members were concerned only about
group homes for recovering drug addicts and alcoholics like Turning Point,
currently operating on Odlin Road.

Councillors agreed there were still questions that needed answers on the
report before they could decide whether to recommend it for approval.

Specifically, staff has been asked to look into the legalities of
separating out under the bylaw drug and alcohol group homes from all other
kinds of homes - from foster homes for street kids to those for the
mentally ill, elderly and disabled.

The report is expected to come back before the general purposes committee
within the month.