Supporters of the Red Deer Dream Centre rallied ahead of an appeal hearing Tuesday at Red Deer City Hall (rdnewsNOW/Troy Gillard)

By Sheldon Spackman

city hall packed

Red Deer Dream Centre goes before appeal board

Nov 26, 2019 | 9:04 PM

Over 150 people packed two rooms at Red Deer City Hall on Tuesday as an addictions treatment facility proposed for downtown went before the Subdivision and Development Appeal Board (SDAB).

The group behind the proposed Red Deer Dream Centre (RDDC) filed an appeal after the Municipal Planning Commission (MPC) denied their development permit application last month.

The centre proposed for 4614 50 Avenue (formerly the Lotus Night Club) is described as a 16-unit facility with the capacity for up to 48 individuals to be in treatment at one time. A third floor would be added to the building to accommodate the project.

There would also be meeting rooms and offices, conference and meeting areas, assembly space and an outdoor patio.

Reasons cited by the commission for the denial included concerns about location, parking and food services.

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The applicant has since revised their proposal by reducing the occupancy load for the main floor place of assembly from 600 to 200 individuals, and identifying a minimum of nine onsite parking stalls for staffing needs.

Others revisions include the addition of a full-service kitchen and eating area, recreational gymnasium-type area capable of doubling as a place of assembly, and several additional rooms identified as multi-use games rooms or weight rooms.

Dream Centre officials believe that the commission erred in its findings that the proposed development is contrary to the intent of the City’s Municipal Development Plan (MDP) and not compatible with existing development in the area, and would result in the concentration of similar uses in historic downtown.

The Applicant (RDDC Ltd.) writes in their appeal that their proposed facility is compatible with existing developments in the area and outside of the historic ‘Gaetz Ross Heritage Area Overlay District’, adding there are no other drug and alcohol treatment facilities operating downtown.

The appeal also notes the proposed development was recommended for approval by City administration.

The Applicant highlighted what they feel are misconceptions of what the proposed facility would be.

“The development that has been set before MPC and now the appeal board will not be a supervised consumption site, an overdose prevention site, a needle exchange program, a soup kitchen, a homeless shelter, a mat program, a detox centre or methadone clinic,” the appeal states. “It is not a gathering place where the marginalized and addicted population can come and go as they please. It will be a secured facility, with a faith-based 49-day residential recovery program, implementing a transitional housing component that is provided after the 49-day treatment program, for periods in excess of two years or more (if required).”

Dream Centre officials also claim their facility would not create new problems for downtown Red Deer, but instead offer a solution to the drug and alcohol challenges currently part of the city’s core.

“The proposed development will assist with cleaning up downtown, supporting residents, revitalizing the area, improving business retention, attracting new business and promoting downtown as a central focal point.”

The proposed facility would employ anywhere from six to 12 full-time positions, and so far has been 100 per cent privately funded.

The appeal concludes that the proposed site is the best possible location with it being within 1 km of the hospital and across the street from both the downtown RCMP detachment and fire station.

At Tuesday’s hearing, those who spoke in support of the project included Earl Pauley, a resident of 57 Street.

Pauley says the building is already there, it’s paid for and it’s time to act.

““We owe it to everyone in this community,” says Pauley. “Here’s an opportunity to do something positive and do it for the future and the kids. Red Deer needs to be a leader, it doesn’t matter how small we are.”

Clarence Torgerson owns property in the downtown and says he understands the fear and anger that people have about downtown but is open to the project.

“I have first-hand experience with needle exchanges,” he exclaims. “These programs have proven that they have absolutely no helping effect on these situations. I see this as being the only program that has offered to be a solution and get people out of this mess.”

Long-time downtown business owner Lorna Watkinson-Zimmer applauds what the Dream Centre is trying to accomplish, but says it needs to be built elsewhere.

“We do need this, nobody is questioning that at all. It’s the location,” she explained. “I have no objection to the thing, they can do what they want, but not in the downtown.”

Amanda Gould with the Downtown Business Association agrees that the proposed location for the facility is not the right one.

“The downtown is already suffering from the negative effects of a bad reputation,” she says. “The concern is if we support the Dream Centre coming into the area then all we’re going to do is spread the message to the rest of our residents of Red Deer that there is yet another service coming downtown and it will further exasperate the situation we are currently experiencing.

The Subdivision and Development Appeal Board has 15 days to provide a written decision regarding the project.