The Northern Supportive Recovery Society may move one step closer to creating a 30-bed women's addiction treatment centre at the former Haldi Road School tonight.
The society has requested the former school, located at 5877 Leslie Rd., be rezoned from rural residential to a special therapeutic community zoning. However, in a report to city council, city staff are advising council to delay a public hearing on the matter until further information is provided about the capacity of the local aquifer.
"To summarize, staff is concerned with the possible increased demand, and how that could impact existing well users in the area who draw from the same aquifer," planner Deanna Wasnik wrote in her report. " As a result, the applicant will need to demonstrate that the anticipated water demand for this use would not negatively impact other users of the aquifer."
The society hired environmental consultants Tetra Tech to conduct an assessment of the aquifer earlier this summer. In August, the society released the results of the study which predicted no appreciable impact on neighbouring wells.
However, the study was based on a four-hour test which drew 2,800 litres of water. The facility is expected to draw 14,750 litres of water per day, up from an estimated 2,750 litres a day when the facility was a school, according to Tetra Tech's report.
In her report, Wasnik said the city wants to see further studies done to confirm the initial findings by Tetra Tech.
The city's transportation division recommended the culvert at the entrance to the site be replaced and a second, abandoned entrance be removed, Wasnik said. City staff recommended that final reading of the rezoning bylaw be held until the owner, a numbered company, posts a security bond with the city to complete the works.
Craig Wood, owner of the Wood Wheaton Supercentre auto dealership, signed as the numbered company's signatory.
The proposed addiction treatment centre has been controversial since first proposed at the site. Residents have raised concerns regarding water supply, traffic and the potential for bringing harmful elements into the rural neighbourhood.
In a letter to city council, three Haldi Road area residents - Laura Jadodnik, Tracey Kettles and Jodie Giesbrecht - drew comparisons between the facility and Narconon International, a California-based drug rehabilitation program operated on principals developed by Church of Scientology founder L. Ron Hubbard. Residents near the California facility raised concerns about addicts leaving the centre mid-treatment.
Because it is a voluntary treatment facility, the letter said, treatment centre staff have no authority to keep people there against their will.
"Although council has clearly indicated their mandate is land use, the impact of such a facility far exceeds the zoning," the trio wrote. "We as taxpayers and voting constituents have concerns that exceed land use and appreciate you reviewing this report as it pertains to our extensive list of concerns that are not being adequately addressed by the proponent."
