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The bill — which requires 80% approval by nearby neighbors — grew out of the uproar that followed an attempt to open a safe injection site in South Philadelphia with no notice to neighbors.
During the hearing, committee chair Cindy Bass had to occasionally reign in the passions of both supporters and opponents who were in attendance.
Health Commissioner Tom Farley said he agrees community engagement is necessary, but the bill would effectively prevent any site from ever opening.
"It is my obligation, it is my job to try to have one or more of these sites open as soon as possible because lives are being lost. Even for those people who oppose these sites, I hope they can understand and respect our sense of urgency to open these in order to save lives," Farley said.
On the other side were neighbors and community advocates, such as Rich Cedrone, in favor of the bill.
"There's a process for everything. There needs to be a process for safe injection sites. The neighborhood needs to be able to say whether they want it or don't want it. We all pay taxes. We have a right to our opinion. We have a right to be heard," Cedrone said.
The bill passed the committee four to two and now moves to the full Council.