A proposed rehabilitation centre in Paradise Valley will not be required to pay $125,000 toward road improvements if the site is rezoned since it is already offering the community several free beds in the centre.On Tuesday (April 22), council debated whether providing such a service to the community could eliminate or reduce the need to support infrastructure improvements to Paradise Valley Road.Staff had suggested the $125,000 go toward a fund to replace the one-lane Bailey bridge with a new two-lane bridge in the future. Currently, there is no money in the fund. The cost of replacing it is estimated at $2 million. Community development director Mick Gottardi estimated the bridge had about 50 years of life left.As an alternative, staff also suggested the money be spent on Paradise Valley Road upgrades between the site and Bailey bridge.Council moved to reduce the road improvement contribution to $50,000 in light of an agreement to provide several weeks of free treatment in the centre for local residents.In the first phase of its development, the treatment centre has allotted 52 weeks of no cost treatment to patients each year at a value of $195,000. At full buildout, the centre would offer 80 weeks, at a value of $300,000."If we can help 52 families in the first year by doing this, that to me is far more important that putting money into the fund," said Coun. Raj Kahlon.Coun. Mike Jenson questioned whether the municipality should accept social services funding, normally offered by the province in lieu of infrastructure funding."It's not just the community bridge, it's that the district in my mind looks after the road, sewer and the water," he said, adding he thought the beds would likely be offered whether or not the road costs were cut.Coun. Patricia Heintzman said the district might seem ungrateful if it demanded the full $125,000."I think we're getting a huge community benefit with this particular facility," she said.The Paradise Valley Wellness Centre would treat 48 residents suffering from destructive behaviours such as drug addiction and eating disorders. Coun. Greg Gardner said he did not think $125,000 was an unreasonable amount of money. The motion to reduce the contribution to $50,000 was narrowly passed with Jenson, Gardner and Coun. Corinne Lonsdale opposed.The rezoning bylaw for the centre will return to council for first and second reading.
