Council decision delays application for supervised consumption site in Nanaimo
NANAIMO — The months-long application process for Nanaimo’s proposed supervised consumption site, to help battle the ongoing and deadly opioid overdose crisis, has been delayed indefinitely.
At a public hearing Monday, May 29, Nanaimo City Council voted 6-1 against rezoning the current overdose prevention site on Wesley St. after hearing concerns and thoughts from 12 residents.
The rezoning is part of an application by Island Health, which they said will allow the site to offer more services such as counselling. Under Health Canada regulations, the current location is technically illegal, but would become exempt from federal restrictions if it was approved as a supervised consumption site.
The rezoning motion had already passed two readings in front of Council.