A group of about 20 County residents opposed to the development of a drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility took its concerns to Crossfield Town Council, Sept, 20.
Group spokesman James Horton said the residents are looking for support in opposing the project, to be located 10 kilometres west of town.
“We as residents have three primary areas of concern,” said Horton. “Decrease in safety and security in the community, a lack of supporting infrastructure and services in the community and overall detrimental effects to the community.”
The project, which was announced in the fall of 2009, will see a faith-based rehabilitation centre build on the former Rocky View Hutterite Colony lands, in conjunction with Teen Challenge, which has 1,000 centres in 82 different countries worldwide, including 17 across Canada.
Horton, who is a retired member of the Calgary Police Service, said that bringing adult recovering addicts to the voluntary facility could pose a problem for Crossfield and its residents.
“So much of the street level crime you see and read about in the evening news: robberies, car prowling, home invasions, break and enters, these are usually attributable to drug addicts,” said Horton. “New Life Centre has no authority to detain. It’s not a custody situation. Security is minimal. Staff at (the centre) can try and convince them to stay, but if they wish to leave they can.”
One aspect of the facility that also concerned the residents is the lack of infrastructure for the New Life Centre, including local hospitals and police services.
Horton also worried that property values would drop in the vicinity of the facility, and in Crossfield.
“If I knew there would be a rehab centre next door to my property, I wouldn’t have bought the property,” said Horton. “Is this a selling point for Crossfield… is this something you will be advertising?”
Councillors are also concerned about the location of the facility in Rocky View County, which is outside of Crossfield’s jurisdiction.
“My view is that there is a need to take care and give a hand up to these people, there is no doubt… you just have to get the location right, you have to be near the services,” said Mayor Nathan Anderson. “Council’s concern is that we don’t want to step on the toes of another municipality’s jurisdiction, but this does effect us.”
Council will be seeking a meeting with members of the concerned group, representatives from the New Life Centre and councillors with Rocky View County in the near future.
“The main purpose is to have all the parties at the table to allow all an opportunity to form their own opinion,” said Anderson.
