Costa Mesa council to consider permit appeal for psychiatric group home
An Eastside psychiatric group home will take its permit push to the Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday.
Nsight Psychology & Addiction is seeking a conditional use permit, which, according to the city, is required for the facility it has operated out of a six-unit compound at 2641 Santa Ana Ave. for more than four years.
The property initially functioned as a sober-living home housing recovering addicts, but for the past several years, it has offered therapeutic housing for up to 30 patients after leaving structured inpatient treatment with primary diagnoses such as bipolar disorder, severe depression or anxiety and post-traumatic stress disorder.
The city Planning Commission rejected Nsight’s permit request in August, citing the property’s proximity to other communal housing in the area.
However, Nsight officials believe the decision “was in error and should be reversed,” according to the company’s appeal application.
Nsight Psychology & Addiction has operated out of the six-unit compound at 2641 Santa Ana Ave. for about four years.
The commission’s denial was rooted in Costa Mesa’s group-home ordinance, which requires all such facilities to obtain city permits and be at least 650 feet from one another in residential areas.
The Nsight complex is 476 to 636 feet from four state-licensed residential detox facilities on University Drive, according to the city.
Council members can waive the separation requirement or determine that it shouldn’t apply in this case. However, they have historically upheld the rule, which city officials say is intended to prevent group homes from clustering in neighborhoods.
Tuesday’s council meeting starts at 6 p.m. at City Hall, 77 Fair Drive.
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