Dear Editor:

I’m writing this letter to inform all citizens of Osoyoos in R1 zoning (single family residential), and all other residential zoning areas in the Town of Osoyoos, of a proposed bylaw amendment to No.1085.105 to include a supportive recovery facility for individuals recovering from drugs and alcohol addiction.

Look on the internet under Brandon Jansen Memorial Recovery Centre and you can read about the facility.

The recovery centre is proposed to have six recovery patients at a time at $18,500 each per month.

A supportive recovery facility does not belong In R-1 single-family zoning! R-1 single family should not support any form of housing except what its zoning was established for – self-owned individual and family living and a peaceful neighbourhood.

By adding amendments to existing zoning, it means these and other facilities can be established throughout our whole town and neighbourhoods.

As a community we have to support all the people in need, however businesses and facilities should have specific bylaws and zoning to address each unique issue.

Why should any Osoyoos citizen who buys a home in family zoning for their retirement, their dream of having a home and neighbourhood to enjoy and raise their family, be affected by a change in housing bylaws to accommodate a facility that does not belong in a residential area?

I strongly urge Mayor Sue McKortoff, CAO Barry Romanko, Director of Planning and Development Gina Mac-Kay, and all council members to look into more research.

This type of drug and alcohol recovery has to have an in-depth study and report study by professionals in this field.

Our neighbourhood should not be changed and disrupted by the stroke of a rezoning pen!

Ken and Karen Sieben

Osoyoos, B.C.