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Zoning board denies Partners in Recovery request to open group home at 630 Fourth Avenue
Summary
The Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments denied Partners in Recovery’s variance and special-exception requests to operate a sober living group home at 630 Fourth Avenue, citing lack of demonstrated hardship and proximity to existing group homes under the new zoning framework.
The Tuscaloosa Zoning Board of Adjustments on Thursday denied Partners in Recovery’s requests to operate a group home at 630 Fourth Avenue, rejecting both a variance from the use‑specific regulations and the special‑exception application.
The board’s action blocks the nonprofit Phoenix House affiliate from opening a three‑bed sober‑living residence two blocks from its main facility. The applicant argued the house would provide transitional housing for residents exiting the Phoenix House recovery program and said staff would monitor residents full time. John Tyler, executive director at Phoenix House, said the organization planned three residents, one per bedroom, and that residents “are working on stable full time employment” and need affordable nearby housing to reintegrate.
Why it matters: The city’s updated zoning framework includes use‑specific standards that require at least 1,000 feet between group homes to prevent concentration in single neighborhoods. The petitioner acknowledged the property sits roughly 360–430 feet from other group homes and requested a variance from the 1,000‑foot separation.
Board members said the petitioner did not demonstrate a regulatory hardship that would justify breaching the new distance requirement. Multiple members noted the new ordinance intentionally limits clustering of group homes and emphasized that financial inconvenience or a desire for a turnkey property does not meet the legal standard for a variance. Board members also cited neighborhood opposition: staff received three written comments in opposition and a petition with 29 signatures.
Residents and nearby property owners offered mixed testimony at the hearing. Wynn Fortenberry, the listing agent and a resident near the site, spoke in favor, noting Partners in Recovery “take care of their properties” and have a clean record with law enforcement. A neighbor, Invera Woodson Tabor, opposed the project, saying the specific house and its rear yard have long maintenance problems and expressing concern about property values.
Board president Bob Weatherly, representing Partners in Recovery, described clients’ challenges and said many residents come from court or jail and are “80% of them are under the poverty line,” arguing for nearby, supervised housing. The board acknowledged the organization’s mission but voted to deny the variance and the special exception, saying the city code’s separation rule and petitioners’ lack of a qualifying hardship made approval inappropriate.
Votes at a glance: The board recorded the outcome as motions failed and the special‑exception petition denied.
What’s next: The petitioners may withdraw and refile or amend their request; any appeal from a final ZBA decision can be filed in circuit court within 15 days, as noted during the meeting.
