Hearing to determine rezoning application for Alpha House

On August 24th, Lethbridge City Council will hold a public hearing on Bylaw 6275, which is the Railway Relocation Lands Area Development Plan. The main goal of the bylaw is to remove a land parcel at 802 2A Avenue North, which is the current spot of the Alpha House in our city. This will allow for the facilitation of a rezoning application to authorize additional land uses in the area. Bill Ginther, the Executive Director of the Lethbridge Soup Kitchen, says he believes this is meant to allow for the potential of a new Supervised Consumption Site.

A spokesperson from Alpha House Lethbridge told Bridge City News this rezoning application is meant to change the bylaw to allow for 24-hour medical support in a detox setting in the current building, and not to institute a new SCS.

The statement went on to say Alpha House has been pursuing a zoning change for the current bylaw where they operate the Shelter and Stabilization Centre.

Based on feedback from the community and stakeholders, Alpha House added that they chose to submit an amendment to the application process to focus on recovery through a medical detox program.