York City planning panel approves Safe Haven recovery home, grants parking and occupancy variances

At a meeting of the York City Planning Commission, commissioners approved a special exception and two variances to allow Safe Haven of York and Pennsylvania, Inc. to operate a licensed recovery group home at 409 West Market Street.

The action matters because it permits a state-licensed residential recovery facility to house up to 16 men in a neighborhood where several commissioners and a council member raised concerns about the concentration of recovery services. The commission approved (a) a variance from the city's off-street parking requirement, (b) a variance increasing the allowed group-home occupancy from the zoning code's 6'8 limit to a maximum of 16, and (c) a special exception to operate a group home, conditioned on the property reverting to multifamily use on sale or transfer.

Courtney Beechler, speaking for Safe Haven of York and Pennsylvania, Inc., said the building would operate as a licensed residential facility for people recovering from addiction and that the Commonwealth's Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs (DDAP) had inspected the site and issued a certificate of licensure. "It is with that purpose that we apply initially for our special exception to be recognized and permitted to operate as a group home," Beechler said.

Joe Girdich, director of operations for Safe Haven, described day-to-day operations, staffing and resident rules. He said staff include daytime staff (roughly 8 a.m. to early evening) and house managers who live on-site and supervise nights and weekends; "to answer your question in short form, there'll be someone there 24/7. Absolutely," Girdich said. He said residents must complete at least 30 days in a treatment program before admission, participate in meetings (AA/NA), follow a 10:00 p.m. curfew and perform chores. He also said rooms meet DDAP spacing expectations and that Safe Haven does not use bunkbeds.

Commissioners and a council member asked about concentration of services in the area, parking impacts, room sizes and common areas. Council member Teresa John Askew voiced concern about multiple recovery houses in nearby blocks and asked the commission to be mindful of neighborhood effects. Beechler and Girdich said many clients do not have cars, that Safe Haven had identified off-site parking the organization would secure if a resident had a vehicle, and that most recovery meetings are within walking distance. Girdich said common areas include a living room on the second floor, a kitchen, a dining/TV room and a fenced backyard.

Votes at a glance: the commission recorded unanimous votes in favor of the three requests related to 409 West Market Street. The roll calls showed all named commissioners voting "aye," and each motion carried.

Next steps: applicants noted the matter would appear before the Zoning Hearing Board; a date was discussed in the meeting (the Zoning Hearing Board meeting was identified as "Thursday").