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Albany council upholds denial of treatment center at 506 Ferry Street
Summary
The Albany City Council on Oct. 22 upheld the planning commission's May denial of a conditional use permit to operate an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center at 506 Ferry Street SW, citing that the applicant before the planning commission was a for-profit entity and a different corporate applicant requires a new application.
The Albany City Council on Oct. 22 upheld the planning commission's denial of a conditional use application to operate an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center at 506 Ferry Street Southwest.
The appeal concerned conditional use case CUDash03Dash25, which the planning commission denied 5–3 on May 19, 2025, after finding the applicant then before the commission—a for-profit LLC—did not meet the code definition of a charitable “community service.” Project planner staff told the council the applicant formed a nonprofit corporation on Sept. 4, 2025, but city counsel advised the council to decide based on the application that went to the planning commission. “You can't switch the applicant during an appeal process,” the city attorney told the council, noting that a new corporate applicant would require a new application and notice to the planning commission.
Applicant representatives disputed that the nonprofit formation should be dispositive. Celia Cakeda, a project manager at Baritone Architecture, said the nonprofit (Core Recovery Connections) was created in response to feedback from the city and offered to accept conditions tying nonprofit operations to the site: “We are happy to engage in all those conversations in good faith,” she said. Owner Angela Kelly said the organization had already moved some services to a separate location and had invested roughly $15,000 in interior upgrades at the Ferry Street property, arguing the project addresses an urgent local fentanyl and housing crisis.
Public testimony was sharply divided. Supporters, including a social worker who read a letter into the record, emphasized transportation proximity to courts and social services and the need for local recovery services. Opponents and nearby residents cited parking and traffic impacts near the courthouse and a childcare center and warned converting a historic single-family residence to a commercial nonresidential use would likely remove it from the housing supply and alter the Monteith historic district's character.
During deliberations councilors repeatedly separated the merits of the service from procedural concerns. Several councilors said they supported the work of recovery providers but were wary of setting a precedent that would allow applicants to change legal entities mid-process. Councilor McLeod moved to uphold the planning commission's denial; the motion was seconded and carried by voice vote. The mayor announced the council's decision to uphold the planning commission.
The city noted that the council's decision may be appealed to the Land Use Board of Appeals by filing a notice of intent within 21 days.
