Permit applications for sober-living and alcohol and drug treatment facilities await Costa Mesa Planning Commission

In their first meeting of 2018, Costa Mesa planning commissioners Monday will wade through a flood of requests for city permits from operators of sober-living homes and alcohol and drug treatment facilities.

Though the establishments up for review are already operating, a city ordinance passed in 2015 requires such facilities with at least seven residents in multifamily areas to obtain conditional use permits to remain open.

Most of the applications on Monday’s agenda are from Northbound Treatment Services — which is seeking permits for its facilities at 2417 Orange Ave., 171 and 175 Rochester St., 125 and 131 E. Wilson St. and 235 and 241 E. 18th St.

The maximum number of residents at each of those properties would be 20 to 26, according to the applications.

In letters to the city, Devon Wayt — listed online as Northbound’s chief operating officer — wrote that its facilities are “substantially compatible” with surrounding permitted uses and not “materially detrimental” to other area properties.

Residents, who are transported by passenger vans, are required to stay on the property unless accompanied by a staff member and are limited in where they can smoke, Wayt wrote.

Another operator, RAW Recovery LLC, has applied for conditional use permits to operate a sober-living home with up to 22 residents at 3016 and 3018 Jeffrey Drive.

“RAW [Recovery and Wellness] provides the best possible opportunity for successful long-term recovery by supporting our residents’ transition into the community,” David Alexander of RAW Recovery wrote in a letter to the city. “We instill the importance of 12-step-based recovery in our residents while promoting the importance of purpose.”

Alexander added that residents are closely monitored by staff and have restricted smoking areas.

Alexander and Wayt said parking has not been an issue at their properties.

The proliferation of addiction-treatment and sober-living homes in residential neighborhoods has been the subject of local debate and consternation in recent years.

Some residents have complained that such facilities — which typically house recovering alcoholics and drug addicts — harm the character of their neighborhoods and create problems with parking, traffic, litter, noise and cigarette smoke, among other issues.

Supporters, however, say the facilities strive to be good neighbors and give people a safe place to maintain a lifestyle free of alcohol and drugs.

According to a city staff report, all the Northbound properties up for review Monday run afoul of the city’s rule that group homes, licensed alcohol and drug treatment facilities and sober-living homes be at least 650 feet from one another in residential areas.

Northbound is asking the Planning Commission to consider waiving that requirement.

No similar facilities are within 650 feet of the RAW property, the staff report states. However, per city codes, sober-living homes may occupy only a single parcel. Because of that, RAW had to apply for separate permits for the two properties on Jeffrey Drive — meaning the buffer rule would still come into play.

RAW is seeking leniency on the distance requirement. Barring that, the commission has the option to approve one of the requested permits and deny the other, according to the staff report.

Monday’s commission meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.

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