Planning commission approves conditions on Carol’s Community Care and schedules 90‑day review

The El Cajon Planning Commission on June 17 approved an update to the conditional use permits for Carol’s Community Care, a residential care facility at 523 Emerald Avenue, adopting additional operational conditions designed to reduce police and fire calls for service and improve compatibility with neighboring properties.

City planner Noah Alvey told commissioners staff had observed an increase in calls for service during 2023 and 2024 and that a prior April 2024 review had not resolved the problems. “On April 16, 2024, the planning commission conducted a review ... ultimately decided not to schedule a public hearing based on assurances from the operator,” Alvey said, but continued calls and complaints led staff to return with proposed conditions. Staff proposed measures including securing the facility perimeter so guests cannot enter without contacting on-site staff, a phone-tree system to ensure calls are answered if the primary manager is unavailable, a written contractor agreement for medical transport, and maintenance of a 24-hour on-site manager. Staff also proposed increasing the facility’s authorized capacity to 70 individuals to match state licensing — the previous CUP approvals recorded 58.

Owner-operator Donald Myers addressed the commission and said he had implemented many of the steps staff requested, including a perimeter fence, new exterior lighting, new doors and windows, new roofs and other repairs, upgraded electrical work and added staff. Myers said he had also arranged a private ambulance/medical-transport agreement and had instituted call forwarding. “We have done everything there,” Myers told the commission, and he provided a facility log documenting actions and staffing.

El Cajon Police Lieutenant Thornton and Division Chief Nevin of the fire department testified about their operational concerns. Thornton said the Department had counted double-digit calls to the facility in April and May and that some recent responses found no on-site manager available; Thornton told the commission, “...we responded and we were unable to locate any staff at all and we needed them for both of those calls.” Fire Division Chief Nevin described the facility’s high volume of relatively low-acuity medical calls and said roughly one third of callback attempts to the facility produced no answer, creating added burden for emergency services.

After public comment and discussion, Commissioner Circle moved to adopt the staff resolutions finding the project exempt from CEQA and approving the CUP amendment subject to conditions; Commission Pollock Rood seconded, and the motion carried unanimously. The approved conditions require, among other items: installation and maintenance of secure perimeter access with an approved access/entry plan to be reviewed by community care licensing and the fire department; 24-hour on-site management with contact information on file with the city; a phone-tree or call-forwarding protocol; a contractor agreement for medical transport; and a required 90-day follow-up review by staff to assess whether calls for service have been reduced.

Staff and the public were explicit that the action is not an eviction or a restriction on residents’ access to emergency services; staff reiterated that it is lawful for residents to call 911 and that the requirements are focused on management, not on denying emergency access. If the operator fails to meet the conditions or if calls for service remain high after the 90-day review, staff and commissioners said the commission could revisit the CUP and consider stronger enforcement or revocation.

The commission recorded its action as unanimous. An appeal period of 10 days applies to the action; staff will schedule the 90-day implementation review after the operator begins the required measures.