Council accepts 30 letters and recommends opposing Brookfield Counseling conditional use

Steubenville City Council on Oct. 28 accepted 30 letters and a petition opposing a conditional‑use permit sought by Brookfield Counseling & Recovery to operate at 717 North 6th Street and approved a nonbinding recommendation that the council oppose Planning & Zoning’s approval.

Mrs. Haley, the clerk, presented the letters, which included business owners, clergy and residents; Mr. Hernon moved to make the letters part of the record and the motion carried by roll call. Later in committee discussion, Mr. Walker moved “for us as council to vote against Planning and Zoning draining approval or conditional approval to the Council of Brookfield,” citing the letters and a petition of 64 signatures and asking council to act on community concerns.

Mr. Walker told the council he and others had pulled records showing “over 147 police calls” in the last year at the Brookville location operated by the applicant and said residents fear the proposed facility would strain police, fire and EMS. Law Director Costa Mastros responded that a council recommendation is symbolic: “It is a little out of the ordinary ... It’s your prerogative. It’s a recommendation that has no force of law. Zero, absolutely zero.”

The recommendation passed on roll call, six ayes (Albaugh, Gorman, Hernon, Hoover, McManamon, Walker) and one abstention by Mr. Mayo, who said he did not want to vote. Mastros and City Manager Jim Mavromatis reminded council that the conditional‑use review proceeds through Planning & Zoning and, if necessary, an administrative appeal can be filed in the Court of Common Pleas; they cautioned council not to interfere with the administrative process.

Council members asked that the letters be forwarded to the Urban Projects Director and the Planning and Zoning Board for their consideration. The recommendation does not block the pending administrative process, and Planning & Zoning retains decision authority under local procedures.