Oshawa wants to limit where social services can be located. Some are fighting back

Some social services in Oshawa say they plan to join an appeal of a city bylaw that restricts where they can expand their services.

City council amended Oshawa’s zoning bylaw in June to ban new social services from being within 800 metres of existing services.

“We’re concerned that we’ll be paralyzed by this, that we won’t be able to offer anything new,” said Debra Mattson, communications and fund development manager for YWCA Durham.

The non-profit is part of a coalition of social services involved in an appeal to the Ontario Land Tribunal, which hears cases related to municipal and land use planning matters. The agencies say the bylaw is too broad and will limit people’s access to needed services throughout Oshawa.

Mayor Dan Carter declined to comment on this story due to the appeal,