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Neighbors challenge proposed residential treatment house at 264 Marietta Highway; applicants cite licensing and supervision
Summary
FIRM Foundation asked council to rezone 264 Marietta Highway from OI to GC to allow a residential transitional treatment residence for men; supporters said treatment capacity is needed while neighbors raised traffic, relapse and property-value concerns. Council asked for details on occupancy, transportation and parking before action.
FIRM Foundation asked the City of Canton to rezone 264 Marietta Highway from Office/Institutional to General Commercial at a Jan. 8 public hearing so it could operate a residential transitional program for men tied to an outpatient treatment facility in Woodstock.
Founder Brian Eicher and Allison Eicher said the program would be licensed, include on-site supervision, medical oversight and a housing manager, and would limit occupancy according to state square-foot rules. Allison Eicher said the state-imposed maximum based on preliminary plans would be 30 people but that the organization did not plan to operate at that maximum.
Supporters said the community needs more treatment options. "There's nobody in this room, probably, that... can't come up with the name of a family member... that has had a substance abuse problem," said one supporter.
Opponents, represented in a lengthy statement by Joseph Bryant, who lives behind the property, said the applicant lacked experience operating such a residential facility, expressed concern about traffic and congestion at the nearby intersection, questioned whether residents could be prevented from leaving if they relapse, and cited studies alleging potential property-value declines near halfway houses. Bryant and others asked for limits on occupancy and more detail on staff-to-resident ratios, transportation between the residence and the Woodstock clinical site, and whether the property's deed restrictions prohibit the proposed use.
Council members pressed the applicant and staff on maximum practical occupancy given the building footprint, frequency and handling of sobriety checks, transportation logistics between the residential site and the Woodstock treatment office, parking capacity, and whether the operator is for-profit or nonprofit and how services will be financed. Staff noted some uses similar to the applicant's program are allowed under OI zoning but that the residential-treatment component raised questions that prompted the rezoning request.
The council closed the hearing and asked staff to return with additional information before any vote.
