Stephens County commissioners direct staff to draft moratorium on 'satellite' recovery homes

A Stephens County commissioner asked the Board of Commissioners on the evening agenda to prepare a temporary moratorium on so‑called "satellite" recovery homes — residential sober‑living placements located far from medical services and without on‑site counseling or supervising staff.

The commissioner who introduced the idea (Speaker 4) said the planning commission recommended examining where such facilities can be located and what minimum services they must provide. "I don't think it's safe [to have a] satellite facility, you know, 14 miles out away from the city," Speaker 4 said, arguing that distance from services and lack of counseling could be detrimental to residents.

Other commissioners acknowledged the need for standards and discussed drafting a moratorium and zoning amendments that would place recovery‑home approvals in the conditional‑use section of the county zoning ordinance. Commissioners discussed a 90‑ to 120‑day timeline for staff to prepare a resolution; county staff confirmed they could prepare the documentation so the item could appear on the next meeting agenda for a formal vote.

The board did not vote on a moratorium at the meeting; instead, members directed staff to prepare the resolution and supporting materials. The discussion covered defining what constitutes a "satellite" facility, proximity to hospitals and support services, and consistency with existing conditional‑use permit rules.

Next steps: staff will draft a resolution for the moratorium and the board will consider the item at its next meeting.