Pubdate: Sun, 19 Apr 2009 Source: Calgary Herald (CN AB) Copyright: 2009 Canwest Publishing Inc. Contact: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/letters.html Website: http://www.canada.com/calgaryherald/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/66 Author: Robert Ross Referenced: http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v09/n421/a09.html ZONING NO OBSTACLE Re: "Methadone clinic threatens to close doors," April 14. The city recently determined that the Second Chance Recovery (SCR) methadone treatment clinic must relocate by June 30 from its northeast industrial location due to inappropriate zoning. The clinic has approximately 500 clients who are struggling to overcome their chemical addictions. The program offers hope to overcome dependency sickness with the ultimate goal of becoming more productive members of society. Without the treatment program, clients become susceptible and the community at large is subject to risk of increased crime, the need for higher levels of policing and health-care servicing, and greater numbers of street persons, vagrancy and panhandling, as a direct result of individuals needing to feed their drug dependency. The city has zoning language alternatives to prevent SCR's forced relocation. The current zoning category of the clinic's location could be amended to permit a methadone clinic use, or the site could be spot-zoned to allow a medical clinic. The entire issue resides with one of community leadership and compassion, in doing what is best in the big picture for Calgary and in helping those in need. How big is the city's heart in helping others in the context of Calgary proclaiming to be the Heart of the New West? Robert Ross, Calgary - --- MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom