Brampton city councillors have asked staff to take a closer look at a request for a zoning amendment that would allow construction of a supportive housing complex opposed by residents.
A 26-unit apartment building is proposed for a site on Sheard Avenue in the area of McMurchy Avenue and Queen Street West. It would provide housing for people with mental health issues and would be headed by Supportive Housing in Peel (SHIP) in partnership with Peel Living.
Residents say the project is too much for the neighbourhood because it is already home to several low-income units, and they have concerns that the tenants, some of whom may suffer from severe mental illnesses like schizophrenia, could pose a threat to the neighbourhood.
A report on the zoning amendment application was before the city's Planning, Design and Development Committee recently, and six residents opposed to the plan voiced their concerns.
The report was sent back to staff and councillors listed seven things they wanted to see done before the report is brought back to committee for consideration.
Among them:
• do a land use review of the area bounded by Queen to the north, the railway lands to the south, McMurchy to the east and the valleylands to the west;
• review current housing stock and zoning within and around the area;


• analyze the "highest and best" land uses in the area in the context of the city's planning goals and objectives;
• more analysis of the reduced parking standards in the proposal;
• consideration of all the comments made to committee by concerned residents and the proponents of the project;
• take an inventory of any other assisted housing projects in the area.
City staff noted in the report that the residents' objections revolve around the operation of the complex, something that is out of the city's jurisdiction.
SHIP officials have tried to address neighbourhood concerns about the plan, offering residents a tour of a similar facility and trying to address the stigma attached to those with mental illness.
"These people are not criminals," SHIP's Janice Peters pointed out recently.