Council member urges review after residents alarmed by recovery house near Brookmoor Addition

Council Member Clark told the Chickasha City Council he had been contacted by 27 residents in Ward 1 who said a newly established residence in the Brookmoor Addition was housing six adults in recovery and that the house sits adjacent to areas with school‑aged children. "These citizens are alarmed by a sudden creation of a home in our neighborhood of Brookmoor Addition, where they're going to be housed six adult recovering addicts," Clark said, and gave the address as 107 Rosewood Drive.

Clark said residents had not been notified and that some neighbors were considering selling. He urged the city to review whether the situation complies with city rules and to consider whether policy changes are needed: "If you can't create neighborhoods that are safe for children ... we're fighting the wrong fight," he said.

City planning staff — addressed in the meeting as Jessica — told councilors that the planning department typically becomes involved if a zoning change is requested and that staff had no immediate file showing a local zoning application for the property. Legal counsel told the council that under the Fair Housing Act addiction is considered a disability and that the law requires reasonable accommodations in some cases, which can limit a municipality's ability to enforce otherwise applicable zoning rules. "Addiction is considered a disability, and under the Fair Housing Act, we have to require reasonable accommodations," counsel said.

Council members pressed staff on specifics they said mattered to neighborhood quality: supervision or an on‑site manager, parking capacity, and whether the property is operated by a licensed recovery provider or by a private landlord leasing to multiple unrelated adults. Public works and community development staff said they would research ownership, licensing and any relevant zoning or program approvals and report back.

Council Member Southern and other members supported Clark's request for a focused review. The mayor accepted a proposal to set a work session so staff can provide the council with options and legal guidance on how to address similar properties in the future. Council Member Clark asked residents not to sell while the city looks into next steps.

The council did not take formal enforcement action at the meeting; it instructed staff to research ownership and applicable law and to convene a work session to return recommendations.