Addiction Treatment Centre Seeks Zoning Amendment in Mablerly

Jeff Green | Jan 31, 2024

The former Burnham Property in Maberly, which is tucked in on a small lot between Maberly Main Street, the Elphin Maberly Road and the Fall River, is being developed into an alternative drug treatment centre.

The project, which is spearheaded by Spencer Kell, is called Love Soluble, and the building will be called the Mani Daniels Centre, once it is up and running.

Kell told both CBC News and Inside Ottawa Valley that after being in and out of prison over a 20-year period when he was addicted to crystal methamphetamine, he managed to get off drugs in 2018, and now wants to open a non-profit, sober living environment for others.

He has taken college courses on counselling and is currently working on his certification through the Canadian Addiction Counsellors Certification Federation,” according to Inside Ottawa Valley.

He is naming the centre Mani Daniels after a former prison room-mate of his who died of a drug overdose 48 hours after leaving prison.

The centre will be made available to people leaving prison after serving sentences related to drug use, who are seeking a change.

There are hurdles to overcome before the centre opens. The building needed extensive renovations, both because of its condition and in order to be transformed from a home and ceramics studio to a residential treatment centre for up to 8 people.

It will also need funding in order to be able to operate as a treatment centre.

But before all that, there is a municipal hurdle. The property is zoned residential and an application is coming before Tay Valley Council this month to rezone it as residential – special exemption, in order to permit the new use.

And not all of the neighbouring property owners are in support of the change.

Concerned about environmental impacts on a property that drains directly into the river, and unclear who will use the facility, a petition is being prepared for Maberly residents to consider signing, which will then be submitted to the township.

“We don’t know enough about the impact of this on Maberly,” said resident Christine Stillwell, who is preparing the petition.

Wayne Gordon, Tay Valley council member for South Sherbrooke district, which includes Maberly, said that while the zoning application has been before the township planning department since late August, he has not heard anything about the matter through township channels, although he has seen media coverage about the proposed centre.

“That is how our system works. The planning department looks at all of the issues involved, and will make a presentation to us, and the public, at the meeting on the 13th.”

Gordon said that the planning department, which is headed by Planner Noelle Reeve, will be posting their report on the proposal to the township website, on February 6, for the public to view before the public meeting.

He said that the planning report will include a recommendation from the planner regarding the application. That recommendation could be to reject the application, or approve it, with or without conditions.

At the public meeting, Council will be able to ask questions of the planner and the applicant.

Council will not debate the application at the public meeting, but will do so at a council meeting, likely on February 27th.

The News has contacted Spencer Kell to speak about the zoning application and his plans for the property, and he indicated he will be available for an interview later this week.