Chester Zoning Hearing Board permits two sober‑living homes with conditions, denies place‑of‑worship relief on Third Street

Chester City Zoning Hearing Board on Dec. 18 ruled on four related land‑use applications affecting homes on East 20 Third and East 20 Fourth streets, resolving appeals and requests for relief that prompted weeks of neighborhood testimony.

The board determined that a notice of violation affecting 42 East 20 Third Street was issued in error and required no relief; it denied requested relief for 44 East 20 Third Street, a proposed place of worship. The board also interpreted two Fourth Street properties as group homes and approved limited residential occupancy for each property, subject to conditions including background checks, expanded camera coverage and steps to protect neighbors’ quiet enjoyment.

Why it matters: The decisions address competing claims between residents who said they bought into single‑family, residential blocks and operators of licensed sober‑living homes who argued federal and state fair‑housing law protects residents recovering from substance use disorders. The cases combined local zoning code definitions, state licensing standards and federal disability protections into a single contested record.

What the board decided and why

Third Street: 42 and 44 East 20 Third Street — notice of violation and place of worship The board read into the record that the two applications for 42 and 44 East 20 Third Street had been continued from the Nov. 20 hearing. After public comment and party testimony the board moved that the notice of violation for application 4‑24 (42 East 20 Third Street) had been issued in error and that no relief was required; the motion was carried. For application 5‑24 (44 East 20 Third Street), which sought relief to allow a place of worship at that address, the board voted to deny all requested relief; the motion carried on a 3–1 vote. Written decisions for both applications will be issued within 45 days.

Fourth Street: 55 and 59 East 20 Fourth Street — sober‑living homes The board consolidated hearings on applications 6‑24 (55 East 20 Fourth Street) and 7‑24 (59 East 20…