A story on the Abbotsford News website published Wednesday about last week’s ‘Everybody Wins’ public forum on the Abbotsford Community Services’ (ACS) proposed Supportive Housing Project has drawn a great deal of fire and criticism of the Abbotsford Downtown Business Association (ADBA).
We’ve copied some of the discussion below and we’re sharing some of the memes (by Meghann Hernaqndez/Coughlan) already making the rounds regarding the ADBA’s position.
The ADBA seems incapable of losing the impression it left early on in the debate over the ACS proposal that it is looking after its own commercial interests at the expense of the homeless in Abbotsford.
To follow the full string simply click here.
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In 2003, the ADBA opposed a 9 bed recovery centre to be
adjoined to the Salvation Army, at it’s previous location at
Gladys St.N.
Approximately 200 people including, ex- Mayor Reeves as
a past member of the ADBA voted against the proposal.
Shortly after, a committee was formed, which included majority
of the ADBA Exec. and other property owners in the ADBA area
inc. a couple of realtors.
This group inc. Bob Bos, who was president of the ADBA and they
voted to have council pass a by-law to allow recovery houses in any residential area in the city, without, a public Hearing required.
Council voted it down, at the time, stating, it would be disingenuous
to the citizens of Abbotsford.
It was not long after that, when council, also, implemented C7 zoning,
which,,excluded recovery houses in the BIA. This special zoning was to help businesses/property owners/investors revitilize the “old downtown.”
Then, back in 2008, the city passed a By-law, which would
regulate recovery houses and allow them in single family residential zoned neighborhoods.
As of today, the recovery houses have been assimilated into our neighborhoods and Council just recently changed the By-law to
allow a second housing unit on the same street.
Clearly, zoning and By-laws implemented by the city are not concrete
and are adapted according to growth and needs within the city.
The ADBA states the city implemented C7 zoning and refers to it
as a promise by the city….promise? C7 zoning is a Zoning By-law
initiated by the city but, I do not believe there are any promises attached
to it.
Having said that, however, I question the cities’ actions in regard to
it’s negotiations with BC Housing and ACS without, any concern
about the ADBA and the C7 zoning in the BIA.
Surely, the city knew this would be a very contentious issue with the ADBA, given their previous stance on recovery houses in Historic
Downtown dating back to 2003.
Why didn’t the city/B.C. Housing, together, approach the ADBA about this proposal at the beginning of the consultation process, thereby, avoiding a problem, now?
Did the city jump on the ACS project bandwagon, because Abbotsford Community Services was providing the land?
How did this all happen right under the ADBA’S nose and
MacGregor is city representative on the ADBA?
The Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce has also come out in
opposing changes to C7 zoning, yet, in 2006, they indicated
they would support council in all adversity, in relation to opposition to
low barrier housing.
What has changed?
Well, perhaps, it’s because ADBA board member, Bob Bos,
has served on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce Executive.
It appears the Chamber’s comment applies, but, not when it involves certain businesses in the city.
Complicating things even more, we have Mayor Banman, who, also, served on the Abbotsford Chamber Executive Board, just before he
was elected into office and don’t forget his buddies at the Chamber
do not support changes to C7 zoning.
And, then, there is Councillor John Smith, previous chair of ASDAC,
City representative on the Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce and they’re supporting ADBA in their plight against C7 zoning changes, by the City of Abbotsford to allow the ACS.low barrier housing project in
the Business Improvement area (BIA) in Historic Abbotsford.
Councillor Smith became the chair of ASDAC in 2006 and the
committee was formed to “address the cities’ most pressing needs.” One would assume that would mean the homeless issue, since
the committee arose from the controversy over the shut downof ‘Compassion park.”
Here, we are almost 8 years later and the homeless are tenting
along the railway tracks across the street from a multi million Mill Tower
Development and just down the way from the Salvation Army Centre.
At this point, you are probably questioning how the Salvation Army ended up in an Industrial zoned area and attracting homeless camps
nearby.
It was the City of #Abbotsford, who “changed” the zoning to allow the
Salvation Army” to locate in the old Lego Building, after they denied
them expansion of the old Salvation Army site, which inc. a 9 bed Recovery House on the site.
What it all comes down to is bad planning in the past,
and now wanting to change a special zoning By-Law,
previously implemented to revitilize the BIA in Historic
Abbotsford.
Added to these problems, we have council members, who are closely associated with members of the ADBA & Abbotsford Chamber of Commerce, Exec., & select members and have been working with B.C. Housing/Abbotsford Community Services, behind the backs of the ADBA & business leaders in the Old Downtown and the homeless, who have mental health and /or addictions are caught right in the middle of this entire debacle!