Cornwall’s Interim Control Regulation needs clearer messaging

Last November, Cornwall City Council adopted an interim control bylaw to tackle homelessness. With estimates ranging from 125 to 250 homeless people, the regulation aims to halt the approval and development of new emergency shelters (with some exceptions) until adequate planning can be established. This move was necessary because the city’s Official Plan lacked guidelines to protect the integrity of homeless shelters and ensure the safety of their occupants.

To solve this, the City Council hired Public Urbanism consultants to carry out a comprehensive study. The study involves reviewing existing policies, examining how other municipalities manage homelessness, and consulting with local organizations, the homeless community, and the general public. The objective It is to develop a tailored solution for Cornwall that ensures a safe and humane approach to homelessness.

A preliminary study has been conducted and a finalized proposal will be presented to the city council in late summer or fall of 2024. On Tuesday, June 18, approximately 40 people attended a public information meeting at the Benson Center to provide input for the study. The preliminary study is available on the City’s Engagement website, highlighting that the cost of housing in Cornwall is slightly higher than the national average, while the vacancy rate for rental units is lower. It also points out that homelessness has worsened, particularly among seniors on fixed incomes and two-wage families on minimum incomes struggling to make ends meet.

The city takes a “housing first” approach, aiming to provide decent accommodation throughout the community with access to schools, transport and amenities. However, the report notes a worrying trend in which social service providers view neighborhood opposition (NIMBYism) negatively.

After integrating local input from written comments and the public hearing, the study’s authors will recommend changes to the city’s Official Plan and zoning regulations. Notably, no city councilors attended the 90-minute meeting, which some may consider significant.

You can share your thoughts on the new Bylaw until June 25 by logging on to www.haveyoursaycornwall.ca and registering to comment.

My appreciation

The public meeting, unfortunately, fell short of expectations and was not very informative.

First, the term “Interim Control Regulation” used on the Engagement website was confusing and did not clearly express the intent of the meeting to address homelessness. This caused confusion and frustration among attendees who thought the meeting would focus on concerns about Massey Commons and other proposed public housing sites. When asked about the terminology, city officials said only that it was the legal term.

Second, the meeting lacked proper introductions and organization. Attendees were greeted by six English-only panels (despite Cornwall’s bilingual status) and consultants without name tags who simply repeated the content of the report. No reports were available at the meeting, and the social services representatives who eventually appeared failed to introduce themselves or provide a clear outline. This resulted in an unstructured and confusing experience for participants.

The disorganization of the meeting, one of the least organized municipal public meetings I’ve attended in over 40 years, raises questions about the city’s commitment to truly seeking public input. It is essential that the city and its consultants take communication seriously and provide clear and accessible opportunities for public engagement. The city can and must do better.