Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Recovery Housing Certification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Delray Beach orders recovery residence to stop operations or obtain certification within 72 hours
Summary
A special magistrate found 347 Northwest Sixth Avenue was operating as a recovery residence without required FAR certification and ordered the owner to bring the property into compliance or cease operations within 72 hours or face fines up to $500 per day.
The City of Delray Beach special magistrate ordered the owner of 347 Northwest Sixth Avenue to bring the property into compliance with certification and zoning requirements for recovery residences within 72 hours or cease operations, or face fines of up to $500 per day, after the Florida Association of Recovery Residences revoked the property's certification.
Code Enforcement Officer Mark Woods testified that the property failed an assessment by the Florida Association of Recovery Residences (FAR) and FAR issued a revocation effective Sept. 11, 2025. Assistant Development Services Director Amy Alvarez testified that FAR had notified the city and that the revocation cited background‑screening and life‑safety concerns and documented the property was in a state of disrepair based on a field assessment. Woods said the development services department requires FAR certification as part of approval to operate a community residence and that additional city approvals—zoning and business licensing—are also required.
The city recommended the owner cease operations immediately or obtain the necessary certifications. Owner Lido (spelled variously in the record) Schlessinger said he was not aware the certification was revoked and asked for more time to address the issue; he said eviction or relocation of existing residents can take weeks under normal eviction procedures. Nick Connor, who identified himself as owner of Safe Health Sober Living and a manager of several properties including 347 Northwest Sixth Avenue, said he was attempting to transfer the business and that background‑check issues were the reason for the FAR action.
The magistrate described competing concerns: the city’s responsibility to enforce certification and protect public health and safety versus the practical difficulty of relocating residents, some of whom the owner said were elderly or medically vulnerable. After discussion the magistrate gave the respondent 72 hours to bring the property into compliance or cease operations; the magistrate found a violation of Delray Beach code 2.40.11 e 10 a for operating a facility without proper certification and stated a fine of up to $500 per day may be imposed for continued noncompliance.
The magistrate instructed city staff to assist as appropriate and placed the compliance timeline on the record.
