By NanaimoNewsNOW Staff

Legal action filed against incoming temporary supportive housing in Nanaimo

Nov 13, 2018 | 12:23 PM

NANAIMO — The process of building 80 units of temporary housing on Terminal Ave. will now be questioned in the courts.

A notice of civil claim was filed in the Supreme Court over the 80 units of temporary workforce modular housing being built at 250 Terminal Ave., to be run by the Island Crisis Care Society.

The claim, from area resident Janet Buechler, alleged the Island Crisis Care Society should be subject to the full rezoning process and required public hearing to build the housing on the land, which is actually several different parcels all with different zoning.

There was no public hearing since the province used existing legislation to exempt themselves from the process.

Buechler argues while the province is exempt, the Island Crisis Care Society is not.

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She’s asked the court to declare whether the Society is subject to zoning bylaws in Nanaimo or not. If a declaration is granted, it could force Council to vote on approving rezoning and lead to a public hearing where concerned residents would have their say about the housing. It could also spark further legal battles.

The housing was introduced as a quick, temporary solution to the closure of downtown Nanaimo’s tent city and the overwhelming housing crisis.

The legal action comes at the same time as petitions circulate around the Terminal Ave. housing. A group called Newcastle Neighbourhood Standards Advocacy submitted a petition to the province with 536 signatures of those opposed to how the housing was introduced, the group said in an email.

Karen Kuwica with the Newcastle group said they feel the process to bring the temporary housing to Terminal Ave. was undemocratic.

“The City makes significant investments, as do community groups, developing these plans,” she told NanaimoNewsNOW. “When they’re not upheld and they’re bypassed, then it’s not a benefit for neighbours joining the neighbourhood or those who’ve long called it home.”

Kuwica said many area residents are working with improper information or basing their opinions on rumour because there’s been little community consulation. 

NanaimoNewsNOW previously spoke to Island Crisis Care Society and Pacifica Housing, who will operate the Labieux Rd. housing.

At the time, executive directors from both organizations acknowledged they’d heard concerns from the community and were open and willing to talk to any residents who opposed the location of the sites.

A petition is also circulating opposing the 90 units of temporary workforce modular housing being built on Labieux Rd. in the City-owned public works yard.

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