Pallet shelter site moving to Pine Tree Park
SYDNEY — Thanks to an inthe-works land lease between New Dawn Enterprises and the provincial government, the Whitney Pier Pallet shelter community is moving to Pine Tree Park.
The park is a former military base on Lingan Road owned by New Dawn, the provider of the planned Pallet community intended to help shelter Cape Breton’s homeless population. The site’s services will be facilitated with help from the Ally Centre of Cape Breton and the provincial Department of Community Services.
Originally, Pine Tree Park didn’t seem to be an option — mainly because pursuing it on New Dawn’s private land would subject the village to Cape Breton Regional Municipality’s zoning bylaws, followed by council deliberation and other steps. New Dawn previously stated the process would take several months.
However, New Dawn president and CEO Erika Shea told the Cape Breton Post on Tuesday that the province has agreed to lease Pine Tree Park land for the 30-Pallet shelter village.
A lease would allow the province to implement its own building codes and zoning processes on the property which, Shea said, would “trump municipal processes.”
“In the best knowledge that we had in early February, to put it anywhere other than provincial land would require a rezoning process,” said Shea, adding the province has leased land this way in other jurisdictions around Nova Scotia for different projects.
A Community Services department spokesperson told the Post Tuesday afternoon that details on the lease and site design lease were still being finalized.
The department said finalizing the village was crucial to get supports to those in need as soon as possible.
“Those who will live in the Pallet village in CBRM are human beings, first and foremost. They are people from our communities who need support — they need a roof over their head and an opportunity to get back on their feet and gain independence.”
The move comes after more than three months of tension between the shelter village’s facilitators and Whitney Pier residents living near the previously proposed site on Railroad Street —
a provincially-owned plot of land.
New Dawn’s need to consider alternative sites became apparent after pushback from residents living near the Railroad Street land, who expressed concern the community’s safety would be put in jeopardy by undesired activities from Pallet residents.
However, Shea said the need for a new site was also the growing fear that Pallet residents themselves would be unsafe on Railroad Street, based on threats encountered online and elsewhere.
“Pine Tree is the best (alternative) in that it’s secluded, it’s set back from the street and there’s a privacy about living at Pine Tree Park than if you were living at Railroad Street,” she said.
Speculation emerged in March that the site would be moved, but Shea nor Community Services Minister Brendan Maguire confirmed that notion at the time.
RESIDENTS NOTIFIED OF PALLETS ON MONDAY
On Monday, Pine Tree Park residents received a letter from Shea sharing the area near the former welding college at the park “is currently being considered” for the Pallets. Currently, several homes, the New Dawn Guest Home, Carefield Manor and the Schooner Curling Club are based at the former military base.
That’s when CBRM District 12 Coun. Lorne Green said he fielded calls from some upset, unsuspecting Pine Tree Park residents.
Green himself didn’t know about the shelter relocation until reading a copy of Shea’s letter delivered to one resident.
He told the Post he’s unhappy with how New Dawn and the province went about its latest plans, which effectively bypasses municipal authority. He said CBRM and residents’ roles in the process are important.
“That’s the way government is supposed to work. It’s supposed to listen to the people”
Shea countered that most current Pine Tree Park residents were supportive of having the Pallet village there, with some offering to help set up the shelters.
As for the sudden news, she said the Pine Tree locale was notified as soon as the province allowed New Dawn to share details.
The village could open as soon as mid-June, Shea said, along with security protocols to protect Pallet residents. There is an information session scheduled in May for park residents.
COUNCILLOR: ‘NOT A GOOD SPOT AT ALL’
Whether or not the Pallets were to eventually get the CBRM go-ahead, Green still doesn’t believe Pine Tree Park is a good location for the Pallet shelter.
“It’s a vulnerable population up there (at Pine Tree),” he said. Green found out about the new Pallet village plan when some Pine Tree Park upset residents called him on Monday.
“It’s mostly seniors. There’s a home there for challenged individuals physically and mentally, so it’s not a good spot at all.”
For people experiencing homelessness, Green said he still questions how dignified the Pallet living arrangements are and felt New Dawn had other interests at play.
“It’s nothing more than a glorified plastic tent,” he said. “Basically, New Dawn chasing money is the way I look at this now. It’s not about helping anybody.”