Terret zoning board approves special use for two sober-living homes amid neighbor concerns

The City of Terret Board of Zoning Appeals voted to approve a special-use designation for two residential facilities at 119 and 1123 North 8th Street during its March 2026 meeting, following a staff recommendation that the proposed use would not alter neighborhood character if conditions are met.

Staff from the city's engineering and building inspection offices recommended the special use under section 10-193, and told the board that the petitioner must secure off-street parking and obtain final approvals from engineering and building inspection. "The intended use as a residential facility would not alter the neighborhood's characteristic or create any significant problems for the surrounding area," staff reported during the meeting (staff name on the record: Sydney).

The petitioner, identified in the record and by public commenters as Lori Sheffield, told the board she has operated the sober-living homes since February 2022 and that she purchased one property specifically for that purpose. She described the program as a nine-month sober-living model intended to provide structure, job-readiness and daily supervision for residents. "I've been operating since February 2022," the petitioner told the board, and said she has financed operations personally and does not receive government funding.

Several current or former residents spoke in support. Sabrina Davis said the program "has saved my life" and said she had been clean for 18 months while in the program. Other supporters described the operator's approach to chores, meetings and work requirements and urged the board to permit the homes to continue operating with oversight.

Neighbors and some board members asked questions about capacity and parking. City staff explained that occupancy is determined by bedroom sizes and state/building codes and noted the city code requires one off-street parking spot per bedroom; staff said garages and driveways may count toward that total if they remain available for parking. According to discussion during the meeting, the two houses together contain eight bedrooms, which generated a corresponding off-street-parking requirement that the petitioner must meet as a condition of approval.

A longtime neighborhood resident raised safety concerns about local drug activity and asked whether placing sober-living homes in an area with visible drug activity posed risks for residents; the petitioner said residents are supervised, not permitted out after dark without accompaniment, and that the program emphasizes safety practices.

Board members emphasized that their role was limited to the land-use question (whether a special exception is appropriate under the code), and not to judging the program's merits. After discussion, the board approved the special use with the staff-recommended conditions; the motion was made by John Colette, included the conditions, and passed with no opposition recorded.

Next steps: the petitioner must secure required parking and obtain final approvals from engineering and building inspection as conditions of the special-use permit. The board also acknowledged a separate communication received from the city Redevelopment Commission; no action on that communication was taken at this meeting.