Businesses and residents have presented their case loud and clear against the proposed move of an addiction treatment centre from Belleville’s downtown, into their part of town.
The application by Myers Creek Development Group, presented at the city’s Planning Committee Monday night, is asking for rezoning of a commercial building at 125 South Church Street just south of Dundas East to allow the Ontario Addiction Treatment Centre methadone clinic.
At present, the clinic is on Front Street in the downtown.
A dozen people, business owners and residents, took to the podium to express concerns about the proposed move.
Michael Vout of Vouts Denture and Hearing Clinic.
Karen Shaw of Belleville Sport and Lawn told the committee she was “:a little shocked when the sign went up.” Shaw said it would affect her property and she would see a 17% drop in property values.
“All it takes is one customer that won’t return” and others hear of it,” she said.
Chair of the Belleville Downtown Improvement Association Kathryn Brown, who is also a Planning Committee member, commented, “From the downtown perspective, it is not crime, but loitering that is the issue. A perception for people who might come downtown.”
Christopher Bardwell, who owns a medical clinic at 65 Dundas Street East, tells Quinte News the addiction centre clients wouldn’t bring ” a positive influence to the area.”
In an interview, Mayor Mitch Panciuk tells Quinte News the city needs the services,
The Director of Operations of the Ontario Addiction Treatment Cetnre, Kate Johnston, commented to Quinte News on the attitude of some of the objectors.
The Planning Committee asked staff to come back with some statistics in its report.
Planning Chair Paul Carr tells Quinte News people might be surprised by those statistics.
A staff report with a recommendation on the rezoning issue will come back to Planning Committee next month, with a council decision expected in June.
