Costa Mesa : Homeowners Appeal Halfway House Permit

As expected, a group of Wilson Park homeowners has appealed a vote by the city Planning Commission allowing developers to build a 24-bed halfway house for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts in their neighborhood.

The matter now rests with the City Council, which is expected to decide during its Sept. 5 meeting.

In its appeal, said Michael Migan, an attorney for the Wilson Park Homeowners Assn. and other nearby residents, argued that building the recovery facility would cause property values to drop, traffic to increase and crime rates to rise.

The appeal cites the fact that more than 650 area residents have signed petitions expressing their opposition to the project.

“The applicant has not shown why he cannot simply build his drug and alcohol rehabilitation facility in a more suitable area of Costa Mesa (or in another city, for that matter),” Migan wrote in his application for an appeal.

The Planning Commission voted 3 to 2 on Aug. 14 to recommend that developers Don and Dee Ward be given a conditional-use permit to replace the six-bed facility at 380 W. Wilson St. with a building that would house 24 men and women.

The Wards, a father-son team who are themselves recovering alcoholics, said they would go ahead with the project if the City Council approves the Planning Commission decision.