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El Cajon commission moves to amend Carroll's Community Care permits amid county, state investments
Summary
After hearing police and licensing concerns and testimony from the operator and county partners, the El Cajon Planning Commission directed staff to schedule a public hearing to initiate amendments to two conditional use permits governing Carroll's Community Care to align city approvals with state licensing and planned capital upgrades.
The El Cajon Planning Commission voted unanimously to direct staff to schedule a public hearing to initiate amendments to Conditional Use Permits 118 and 631 for Carroll's Community Care, a 70‑bed adult residential facility at 523 Emerald Avenue.
Commissioner Rose moved to schedule the amendment hearing and Commissioner Circle seconded. The motion passed unanimously. The item was presented to the commission as a review rather than a revocation hearing; staff and the commission emphasized coordination with state and county partners before drafting new or revised conditions of approval.
Staff told commissioners that complaints and calls for service had risen beginning in 2023 and that recent review showed a mismatch between the city’s CUP paperwork (showing 58 beds in city records) and the state license (70 beds). Staff said many of the problems — frequent police responses, onsite management availability, nuisance and maintenance issues — could likely be addressed through updated operating conditions and modest physical improvements, and recommended initiating a formal amendment process.
Lieutenant Thornton of the El Cajon Police Department described the operational impact: Carroll's repeatedly appeared at or near the top of monthly call-volume lists for the patrol district, and officers often encounter no on-site management available to provide information needed for mental health evaluations. Thornton recommended measures such as enhanced lighting, gated perimeter control and 24‑hour on-site management as examples that have worked at other facilities.
Don Myers, the facility owner and operator, and his son Brian Myers said they have been implementing changes: they described new staff hires, upgraded fencing and cameras, and participation in a city grant program to fund improvements. State Community Care Licensing assistant branch chief Issela Estrada said Carroll's is licensed for 70 beds, is ‘‘in substantial compliance’’ with state licensing and is the subject of technical assistance resources meant to preserve beds. Megan O'Dowd of the County of San Diego Behavioral Health Services described competitive state and county grant awards to preserve boarding‑care beds and confirmed capital work under way, including fencing, lighting, new windows and doors and other upgrades funded through community care preservation grants.
County and nonprofit speakers urged the commission to coordinate with county behavioral health and the state licensing agency so city permit conditions do not conflict with state law and to preserve existing beds that serve a vulnerable population. Mike Phillips of Jewish Family Service said the county has few boarding‑care beds left and noted the systemwide effects if these placements disappear.
The commission's direction was limited: staff should work with the county, the state licensing agency and the facility owner to prepare a robust proposed amendment package and return to the commission at a noticed public hearing. Commissioners emphasized the goal of aligning city CUP conditions with state licensing requirements while adding operational requirements (for example, management presence, perimeter and lighting improvements and other measures) designed to reduce calls for service and improve neighborhood compatibility.
No revocation was authorized; staff will prepare draft conditions and a hearing date and notify interested parties.
