Residents urge support for men's recovery house at public comment; proponents outline plan for 417 E. Oregon St.

During the public comment period on March 12, 2026, residents urged the Lapeer City Planning Commission to support a proposed Level 2 men's recovery house at 417 East Oregon Street.

Robert Pence, who introduced himself and provided an address for the record, said he and his wife plan to operate the home and have made an offer on a six‑bedroom, 3½‑bath house on approximately 1.6 acres. "We plan to meet all safety egress requirements," Pence said, and described the property as offering large rooms and a layout well suited for a recovery residence. He framed the proposal as a community response to rising overdose fatalities in 2024, citing statewide and regional figures presented during his comments.

Supporters who spoke included Darius Miller, who described 13 years of security and corrections‑rehab experience and said he hopes to partner with New Paths on programming and safety. John Creek, who said he has 26 years of sobriety and runs local meetings at the Clover School, also voiced support and said recovery housing has "no burden on the taxpayer" and is important for community health.

Speakers said their intention is to house individuals who have completed a recovery program rather than persons newly entering treatment; they emphasized safety, transparency and compliance with city requirements as priorities.

No formal application or staff action on the property was recorded at the meeting; the comments were presented during the public comment period to inform the commission and staff.

Quote: "We propose to operate a level two men's recovery home," Robert Pence said, adding the plan is "high level" and that the applicants intend to be "open with everybody and transparent with what we do."