‘I will not give up’: Denial of permit will not stop Integrity Recovery Society
PRINCE GEORGE — City council has put the brakes on bringing existing supportive housing into compliance at a residence in College Heights, denying the applicant, Rick Edwards of the Integrity Recovery Society, a three year Temporary Use Permit (TUP).
The location in question is 7973 Rochester Crescent and the property is currently zoned as RS2, Single Residential. In a report to council, the city says that in September 2020, the society applied for a TUP to permit a supportive housing facility at 2310 McMillan Drive. The application was withdrawn in October 2020 as they were informed that city administration would not support the application. According to the report, the applicant indicated that they had relocated to Rochester Crescent and “began operating immediately without applying for a TUP or business license.
Rick Edwards says that council made their decision provided with information that was incorrect, disputing that the society has been in operation at Rochester Crescent for over three years, saying that it is false and that “there has not been one counselor, not one program ran inside this house.”