Zoning Board denies request for recovery center location

zoning

             While the Washington Board of Zoning Appeals granted two requests to reduce setback requirements and one request to approve an auxiliary building larger than allowed by city code, a request by Victory Tabernacle to locate a Stage 2 half-way house for recovering substance abusers in a residential area in the 400 block of E. Flora Street was denied Wednesday evening.  

            Victory Tabernacle’s Pastor, Pete Aldrich, explained to the Board of Zoning Appeals that the Lighthouse women’s facility located in the 300 block of Main Street planned to separate new arrivals from those who have been in the recovery program for more than 45 days.  The new facility was to be located in the 400 block of E. Flora Street.   

      Several neighbors of the property expressed concerns about parking on the narrow area streets, the increase of traffic due to visitors to the area, and the proximity to schools.    Washington Catholic High School and North Elementary are both three blocks from the property, and the Washington High complex and WC Elementary are only two blocks away.   In the end, the location near the schools seemed to be the determining factor.   Board Chairman Donald Spillman, a retired teacher, said he was not convinced that his questions about security and supervision at the proposed facility had been adequately answered.   Greg Haag noted that in today’s society recovery centers were needed, but he also questioned the proposed location.  Haag noted the number of children walking to and from school and after school activities through the area each day.   The Board voted 5-0 to deny the request.  

            During the discussion Aldrich told the Board that Lighthouse had other facilities in residential areas.  Spillman reminded Aldrich that those facilities needed to requests variances to comply with city code.

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