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La Mesa forms ad hoc subcommittee to review group‑home and sober‑living rules after Bellflower Drive complaints
Summary
Following repeated public complaints about an alleged unlicensed sober‑living operation on Bellflower Drive, the council voted unanimously to form an ad hoc subcommittee (Vice Mayor Casares and Council Member Lothian) to review local regulations and potential regulatory options while noting state fair-housing constraints.
Residents from Bellflower Drive and surrounding neighborhoods implored the council on Sept. 23 to act after years of what they described as persistent nuisance and safety problems tied to a nearby residence operating as a recovery facility.
Barbie Wheeler told the council the house has “police activity on our street all the time” and asked the city to “untie the police department’s hands.” Multiple neighbors described repeated calls for trespassing, fights, thefts, overnight disturbances and a pattern they said made the cul‑de‑sac unsafe for children.
Several speakers identified the property operator by name and cited what they described as misleading business registrations and unlicensed activity. Emily Snyder said city records show an LLC (Green Home Builders LLC) associated with the address and suggested the registration “may be a misrepresentation.” Ilka Weston, an advocate with TAP (Transparency and Accountability for those under Probation), urged stronger oversight and said some facilities exploit residents and run unsafe operations.
Vice Mayor Casares framed the council’s action as cautious: while acknowledging state fair‑housing law limits on regulating group homes, she proposed an ad hoc subcommittee to study legally viable local approaches and learn from other municipalities. Casares said she did not want to “over‑regulate licensed, properly run, safe facilities” but wanted tools to stop operators who take advantage of vulnerable people.
The council unanimously approved the motion to form the ad hoc subcommittee and appointed Council Member Lothian to serve with Vice Mayor Casares.
Council members noted legal constraints and emphasized the subcommittee’s work should focus on options that can pass legal muster rather than an immediate ordinance that might be vulnerable to challenge.
