A group of citizens are gathering at the corner of McCurdy and Rutland Road to protest a controversial new supportive housing developing destined for the area.
This week, Kelowna City Council approved a form and character application that will pave the way for a new 49-unit supportive housing project in Rutland.
The project is located at the current site of the Knights of Columbus Hall along McCurdy Road.
That location was already-re-zoned two years ago to support a medium-density housing project, meaning the project will not go to a public hearing.
An online petition was started to have the project stopped until proper research and public consultation can take place.
“Rutland is becoming saturated with wet supportive housing facilities. The current proposed on McCurdy and Rutland rd is in close proximity to three schools,” reads the petition.
“As a community, we feel it is wrong to expect us to be the only citizens to try and solve a city wide problem,” it continues. “This new project has struck a nerve due to location, and lack of care for the families and children in the area.”
“The city council has passed this project without proper public consultation, and without any regard for the well being of our children and youth.”
The petition says that the development has the potential to increase crime, drug use and discarded drug paraphernalia, and is “the wrong thing to subject our vulnerable population to. “
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