A provincial tribunal has dismissed an appeal by area businesses regarding the site of a supervised consumption site in London.
The Local Planning Appeal Tribunal released its decision Thursday, saying it will "wholly dismiss the appeals" brought forward by a numbered Ontario company, Drewlo Holdings, Burwell Auto Body, and Northview Apartment regarding the site at 446 York St. The businesses argued against a Zoning Bylaw Amendment, saying that allowing a supervised consumption site at that location would negatively affect the neighbourhood and businesses due to discarded used syringes, loitering by people with addictions, the presence of drug dealers seeking to sell to clients of the site, and criminal activity related to the acquisition of illicit drugs by those with addictions.
The tribunal looked at whether the location of the supervised consumption site at 446 York St., and the Zoning Bylaw Amendment that would allow it, is consistent with policy 1.1.1 (c) of the Provincial Planning Statement which says "Healthy, livable and safe communities are sustained by: … avoiding development and land use patterns which may cause environmental or public health and safety concerns."
The tribunal determined that there was no inconsistency.
"Rather the Tribunal finds that the proposed SCF (Safe Consumption Facility) will assist in addressing issues of public health and safety concerns," its report said. "The evidence is that there is an opioid-related drug epidemic in the Province of Ontario and in the City of London, that the Subject Lands are well located in between two “hot spots” for discarded sharps and the Tribunal finds that the provision of an SCF in this location will be a positive step to bettering public health and reducing safety issues to the community at large."
The LPAT's decision can be read in full by clicking here.
The Middlesex London Health Unit and Regional HIV/AIDS Connection want to create a permanent supervised consumption site at 446 York Street. The decision by the LPAT appears to clear the way for that to happen.
However, there are still questions about provincial funding. After the government announced in early June that it would not provide funding, Health Minister Christine Elliott said funding had not been ruled out.
In the wake of LPAT's decision on Thursday, municipal officials took to social media to express their happiness with the result of the appeal.
Encouraged to learn, moments ago, that the Local Planning Appeal Tribunal (LPAT) has wholly dismissed all appeals surrounding the location of a permanent supervised consumption site at 446 York St. #ldnont
— Ed Holder (@ldnontmayor) November 28, 2019
Another win for the human rights of our most vulnerable.
The Land Planning Appeals Tribunal decided today that the proposed location for #ldnont's Consumption & Treatment Services (supervised consumption) facility at 446 York is just fine. @CityofLdnOnt previously endorsed this.— Dr. Chris Mackie (@Healthmac) November 28, 2019
Having read the decision now, it’s a very strong decision dismissing all three elements of the appeals.
One step closer to having a supervised consumption and treatment facility in a better space in #ldnont. https://t.co/mLS4gMNrg1— Jesse Helmer (@jesse_helmer) November 28, 2019
