Residents urge limits on proposed Highland View rehab site; county to draft ordinance and resolution options

Residents and commissioners on Nov. 5 discussed community concerns about a proposed drug-rehabilitation or sober-living facility in the Highland View area and asked county staff to prepare draft ordinance language and a resolution expressing location preferences.

A commissioner described a community meeting at the Hahnview Fire Station that drew around 60 people and a petition with roughly 80 signatures opposing a proposed site because of its proximity to houses and parks. Doug Kelly, a resident who attended the meeting, asked a procedural question during public comment: "When you talk about parks, can you put in there a RV park?" Staff replied that an RV park is considered a park for distance restrictions and that the city's ordinance under consideration sets a 1,000-foot buffer in some cases.

Jeremy, a county planning/legal staff member, briefed the board on the city's action: the city held a first reading of an ordinance that would restrict locations and intensity for such facilities, and it plans a second reading before adoption. Jeremy said the city's approach cannot outright prohibit the use but can impose location and intensity restrictions, such as buffers from schools, playgrounds and similar sites.

Commissioners and staff discussed options for the county: (1) draft a county ordinance with defensible, reasonable distance and intensity standards that would stand up in court; (2) adopt a board resolution expressing the county's preference that such facilities be sited away from vulnerable uses and near appropriate services; and (3) coordinate language with the city so that complementary rules apply in border areas. Staff said it would return to the board with draft ordinance language and a proposed resolution before the next regular meeting so commissioners could decide whether to advertise an ordinance during the holiday period.

Why it matters: Residents voiced concerns about first-responder demand, laundry-list public-safety and social-service impacts observed in larger cities with similar facilities, and county officials said they need to balance public-safety protections with legal limits on restricting private property and commercial uses.

What happens next: County staff will prepare draft ordinance language and a possible resolution and return to the commission at the next regular meeting for direction on advertising an ordinance.

Quotes in context: "You can put in there a RV park?" asked resident Doug Kelly about the scope of park definitions. Jeremy explained the city's ordinance approach and the legal need to adopt reasonable, defensible standards.

Ending: Commissioners directed staff to return with proposed language and a draft resolution before the next regular meeting so the board can consider formal action.