We, the undersigned, respectfully petition the Mayor and Council of Surrey and representatives of BC Housing and Fraser Health as follows:

We oppose the rezoning and development of 15238 19th Avenue and 1880 152nd Street in Semiahmoo Town Centre for the purpose of a multi-unit building that includes Complex Care Housing (CCH) and supportive housing.

According to BC Housing, the proposed development would contain:

200 “affordable” rental homes

40 supportive housing studio units

20 Complex Care Housing units with enhanced mental health and substance-use supports

While we support compassionate care for vulnerable individuals, this location is the wrong place for such a facility.

Why We Oppose This Location

1. Safety & Livability Concerns

Experience from other BC communities shows that areas near CCH facilities often face loitering, yelling, and late-night noise.

Parents and children risk exposure to open drug use, discarded needles, and disruptive behaviour while walking to schools, parks, and local services.

Litter, graffiti, and abandoned belongings frequently accumulate around these sites, discouraging community use and harming local businesses.

2. Proximity to Sensitive Child & Family Spaces

 This proposed site is immediately surrounded by family-oriented community amenities:

Jessie Lee Elementary School – 700 m (10 minutes’ walk)

Outdoor playground and baseball diamond – 3 minutes’ walk

Semiahmoo Public Library with children’s programs – 290 m (4 minutes’ walk)

Preschool program that uses the playground for outings – 600 m (9 minutes’ walk)

Small private school that regularly uses the field and playground – 180 m (3 minutes’ walk)

Families and children use these spaces every day. Introducing Complex Care Housing, with its association to open drug use and disruptive behaviour, puts these children in direct proximity to risks that should not be present in their daily lives.

3. Impact on Families & Community Character

Our neighbourhood is growing with young families who chose this area for safety and livability.

Nuisance crimes such as package theft, vehicle break-ins, and shoplifting are often reported near similar facilities.

Regardless of official crime statistics, families judge safety by lived experience, and this project undermines that trust.

4. Property Values & Neighbourhood Decline

Disorder and visible drug use send a clear signal of neighbourhood decline, which harms property values.

Residents have invested deeply in this community, and this facility is incompatible with protecting those investments.

Our Position

We support housing solutions for vulnerable populations, but placing a Complex Care Housing facility in the middle of a family-oriented neighbourhood is not the right approach.

We therefore call on the City of Surrey and BC Housing to:

Reject the rezoning of 15238 19th Ave and 1880 152nd St for this purpose.

Re-evaluate and pursue more appropriate locations for Complex Care Housing, away from schools, playgrounds, libraries, and family housing.

Protect the safety, livability, and long-term health of our community.

By signing this petition, I acknowledge that it may become a public document and that my information may be shared with City Council and relevant agencies.

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