Consultants Jay McGuffin speaks to Sarnia-Lambton residents during a community meeting regarding a rezoning application for the old Sarnia General Hospital. April 17, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, Blackburn News)Consultants Jay McGuffin speaks to Sarnia-Lambton residents during a community meeting regarding a rezoning application for the old Sarnia General Hospital. April 17, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, Blackburn News)
Sarnia

Room Divided Over Withdrawal Management Site Plans

A proposal to change part of the old Sarnia General Hospital into a withdrawal management site isn't sitting well with some Sarnia residents.

Around 50 people attended a community meeting Tuesday night to discuss a rezoning application filed by GFive Inc., a group of five local businessmen who purchased the site in October 2017.

The overall development includes plans for 11 single family residential homes, some medical offices and a withdrawal management site at the north side of George St. at MacKenzie St.

Kevin Gelinas, who lives just down the street from the proposed location, is worried about the people the site could bring into his neighbourhood.

"I think of the detox centre in downtown London. If you go down there, there's drug addicts hanging out all around the place," he says.

Some people agreed with Gelinas and called for the site to become more residential.

Others that attended, like Sarnia-native Greg Jones, say people that live near the site have nothing to worry about.

"Nobody wants it in their neighbourhood, but people shouldn't be concerned about it," says Jones. "People who are going there have realized they made mistakes and they need help. If we don't help them, who's going to?"

GFive Inc. partner Kenn Poore (left) answers a question during during a community meeting regarding a rezoning application for the old Sarnia General Hospital. April 17, 2018. (Photo by Colin Gowdy, Blackburn News) GFive Inc. partner Kenn Poore (left) answers a question (Photo by Colin Gowdy).

Bluewater Health has had talks with GFive about the location of the management facility, but the hospital is still considering all their options for the site.

GFive partner Kenn Poore thinks there's a little bit of a misperception as to what a withdrawal management facility is.

"This is very much a residential type facility. It's intended to be very low-key and very 'non-hospitalish', if there is such a word."

Sarnia City Council plans to consider the rezoning application May 7.

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