By Cecilia Nasmith
Cobourg council at this week's committee-of-the-whole meeting approved the rezoning that will enable the transformation of the Woodlawn Terrace inn and restaurant into a Canadian Centre for Addictions rehab-detox facility.
Director of Planning Glenn McGlashon noted that the process has already been the subject of an open house and a statutory public meeting since council received the application in October.
“We have heard from a lot of members of the public, a lot of agencies, a lot of members of council as well,” McGlashon said.
“We have consulted with members of our development review team, which includes members of the Cobourg Police Service and Haliburton Kawartha Pine Ridge District Health Unit.”
The process has also included a review of best practices in similar facilities in Belleville, Kingston, Brockville, Oshawa, Burlington and Port Hope, he added, as opposed to centres in larger cities like Toronto.
“We put our heads together to determine if this specific land use is appropriate for this site and how to best approach and implement it,” McGlashon said – noting that a review focusing on land use does not deal with operational matters that may arise once the centre is operational.
“It's not a part of the process to look at the user of the site,” he said.
“We regulate land use, not the land user.”
What is planned for the stately building at 420 Division St. is a private fee-for-service operations that specializes in treating individuals battling addiction to chemical substances – drugs and alcohol – in a safe, secure, comfortable and structured environment, where stays may vary from a week to 90 days.
“What it is not – it's not a safe-injection or -consumption site. It's not an emergency shelter. It's not a drop-in treatment centre,” McGlashon stated.
“There will not be any drugs or alcohol on the grounds, and its use is not related to or affiliated with Transition House.
“It's a private commercial fee-for-service operation. It's a closed, self-contained facility with no reliance on other community supports unless they are desired or wanted.
“There's no interaction of the patrons with the rest of the community. It's staffed 24 hours a day. And while patrons are there voluntarily, there's no in-and-out privileges. Once they leave, they are transported home.”
McGlashon said there is no evidence of adverse effects to the community from the Centre for Addictions facility in Port Hope. When it opened, the operators voluntarily undertook to meet with members of the community weekly to discuss their concerns. After a handful of meetings, local residents decided they had no issues with the operation.
Cobourg's proposed 40-bed facility will not draw attention to itself, McGlashon said.
“It respects the existing cultural heritage of the site and facilitates adaptive reuse of an existing heritage building. There will be minimal exterior changes and, if anything, they would be done in a very tasteful and attractive manner that should enhance the overall site.”
The Cobourg Police Services expects it will not have significant impact on their operations. As for the health unit, their primary concern is that the facility's kitchen be compliant with certain standards.
Ryan Guetter, representing the building's owner, added a word about a concern he had been hearing – fencing.
“One of the things we are keen to do is to work at ensuring the fencing is installed in a manner that responds to the community feedback we have heard, both in ensuring privacy and a measure of security,” he said.
Comments had also stressed the importance of not screening the view of the front of the building from Division Street, he added.
“Perhaps a more decorative rending that would provide security and privacy features but might be indicative of the presence of this as a unique and desirable building reflective of its heritage character.”
