Hospital Proposal Defeated at Packed Laguna Meeting

More than 200 Laguna Beach residents packed City Council chambers Tuesday to oppose plans to convert a residential drug-recovery center into a full-fledged rehabilitation hospital.

“I don’t want chronic drug abusers moving into a neighborhood with kids and families,” resident Patrick Fetzer, 28, said. “It’s bad enough as it is now.”

After more than two hours of public comment, the council overturned a Planning Commission recommendation to grant Christopher C. Spencer permission to add 24-hour inpatient medical care and emergency treatment at his Spencer Recovery Center.

Spencer had told officials he envisioned a facility comparable to the famed Betty Ford Center in Rancho Mirage.

But residents voiced strong opposition, and in November newly elected Councilwoman Toni Iseman filed an appeal saying a hospital program would be inappropriate for the historic building at 1316 S. Coast Highway.

Besides, Iseman said Tuesday, “Turning this into a hospital would open up the city to liability.”

Operating since June 1997, the center serves recovering alcoholics and drug addicts who need extended post-hospital care. It can accommodate 28 people.

Spencer, who also owns Spencer Recovery Centers Inc. in Monrovia, bought the 10,000-square-foot art deco-style building in November 1996 and made extensive changes to the former motel.

Not all of those who turned out for Tuesday’s council session opposed Spencer’s latest proposal.

“I can’t believe so many people are against it,” resident Lynne Herron said. “This place is an improvement of what was there--it was a blight for years. I’m surprised nobody’s compassionate about helping people out.”