Halfway House Loses Bid to Move Into Residential Area

Giving in to angry neighbors, the City Council on Tuesday turned down a controversial plan to place a halfway house for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts in the middle of a residential area south Burbank neighborhood.

Scores of opponents jammed council chambers demanding that the council reject a bid by Valley Lodge to move from its current location in an industrial area at 446 N. Varney St. to a two-story residence at 600 S. Lake St.

The concerned residents, who presented city leaders with a 270-signature petition, complained the facility was too close to several liquor stores and posed a threat to neighborhood children. Many aired their displeasure in more than two hours of public comment.

Those words apparently were enough to sway council members, who rejected the group’s request by a 4-1 margin.

“Philosophically, I support the program,” City Councilman Ted McConkey said before the public comment period. “I think once they [the residents] look at the program and see what kind of a record they have had for 40 years, they would support the program. It’s going to be an asset rather than a detriment.” However, McConkey eventually voted against the proposal.

Founded in 1949 in North Hollywood, Valley Lodge is a nonprofit group providing “a sober living environment,” as well as food, clothing and temporary shelter for recovering substance abusers.

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City documents show the facility is not classed as a rehabilitation treatment center and therefore not subject to state licensing requirements. “We run a clean house and I think we would be a good neighbor in that area,” said one of the home’s administrators, who declined to identify himself.

Tim Trumbo, 44, general manager of 3-D Plastics, told residents he has seen no problems with the facility at its present site.

“They’ve been good neighbors and they’ll be good neighbors at the new location,” Trumbo said. Fears of the facility’s residents are founded on “a vast misconception,” he said.

“They’re not perverts, they’re not monsters--they’re alcoholics.”

Don Stirling, president of Valley Lodge, acknowledged it was hard to assuage residents’ fears, but said, “There are people throughout the United States who have drinking or drug problems and they need a spot like this to get their lives back in order. This isn’t something new.”

But Alma Lopez, 27, who spearheaded the campaign and the signature drive against the facility, said she would rather see it somewhere else.

“Nobody’s trying to discriminate, we just would rather have it in a commercial zone rather than in a residential area,” she said. “If a child sees one thing one time it makes a lasting impression.”