Council approves next step for Redwood

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This article was published 06/10/2023 (870 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

While most of Manitoba tuned in to see whether the New Democratic Party or the Progressive Conservatives would form the next provincial government on Tuesday, those with a vested interest in something closer to home packed Brandon’s city council chambers.

The City of Brandon held a public hearing for a variance application to transform the Redwood Motor Inn, located at 345 18th St. North, into a family reunification facility for people who have gone through addictions treatment. The city’s planning commission had previously rejected the zoning application on July 7.

The application had been brought by Aurora Recovery Centre, a private addiction treatment centre in Gimli, which now owns the Redwood in Brandon. Aurora is converting the motel into a long-term recovery facility that helps parents recovering from addiction reunite with their children and learn basic life skills to help them work toward independent living.

A supplementary report written on Sept. 22 to city council recommended two options.

It could approve the variance, following which the applicant would apply for a permit to complete improvements to formally establish the use of the building, and to have one year to complete those improvements.

Or, council could reject the variance request as proposed, with the site continuing to operate as a motel and provide accommodation to lodgers for longer stays, as allowed in the zoning bylaw.

Coun. Bruce Luebke (Ward 6) moved option one — that the site-specific use for family reunification centre be approved in accordance with the letter of intent and site plan. Following approval, the applicant would apply for a permit to lead improvements to formally establish the use and have one year to complete those improvements.

Coun. Kris Desjarlais (Ward 2) seconded the motion, and Mayor Jeff Fawcett opened the motion up for discussion.

Luebke stated that his stance on the issue has switched, and that he really wanted to see the service come to the community.

“Maybe it’s not the best location, maybe it’s not the best process that we followed yet to this point, but I do think there is some benefit to our community to have this,” he said.

Luebke said he liked the fact that the city’s planning department was looking at the zoning bylaw, but said it will take a long time to come up with a solution so the process doesn’t have to be repeated the next time something like this comes to council.

Coun. Barry Cullen (Ward 3) said he would support the motion and acknowledge the grassroots support that the program seems to have.

“It was never in any doubt that we did not have enough transitional support for addictions,” Cullen said, praising the project’s proponents. “It’s groups like you that have stepped up to the plate.”

Cullen stressed the need to ensure the planning for the reunification facility runs smoothly so that the centre is as safe as it can be, with all the right permits in place.

Coun. Tyson Tame (Ward 10) said the centre has been a contentious issue, and that he would not support the motion due to the location of the Redwood Motor Inn, and its lack of closeness to grocery stores, greenspaces and pharmacies.

“I just wish it was a few blocks maybe to the east. That is my stumbling block. I’ve kind of looked at and listened to all of the arguments, and I hate that that has to be my choice, but that is what I’ve come to,” Tame said.

Coun. Greg Hildebrand said that Aurora does good work, but that work needed to be separated from zoning requests.

“Long-term staying — to me, that’s living. That’s not a motel,” he said. “I work in that area, and for me there’s lots of safety concerns … it’s definitely the right idea, but the wrong location.”

One of the great things that has come out of the conversation about the Redwood Motor Inn is that Brandon is now more aware of the need for wraparound support, quality of care, and the kind of work that Aurora offers, Coun. Heather Karrouze (Ward 1) said. Despite that, she said she couldn’t support the motion.

“I don’t believe that this is the right place because of safety. It’s a great idea, but it’s the wrong place for it to happen.”

Desjarlais said that there is no perfect decision in the matter.

“The Redwood isn’t great, but there are worse hellholes in our country, and I’ll even say in Brandon, that people are living in,” he said. “It is not a perfect system.”

Desjarlais said Brandon needs to be part of the healing journey of truth and reconciliation, and that the motion should be approved because it’s important that family reunification happens.

Fawcett said he was in support of the motion, thanks especially to the city’s planning committee’s hard work.

“What I hope going forward … is this community comes together and we make things work for the people who need them most,” he said. “This is not perfect, but we have nothing, and now we might have something.”

The motion passed 5-3, allowing Aurora to proceed with the family reunification project and giving it one year to make required renovations.

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