Sober living homes are small rental residences reserved for those recovering from substance abuse, and while few object to the concept, an increase in the homes has led to neighborhood complaints.
But, as CivicLex's Adrian Bryant explains, there are limits on what the city can do.
"The city is kind of in a weird spot because of the Federal Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Both of those pretty much say that cities can't regulate these types of homes in terms of density or prohibiting them from different zones," Bryant said. "The city can only pass a pretty narrow set of regulations."
One of those options has taken its first step toward council approval — and that's a new certification requirement.
Michael Cravens, an attorney with the city's Department of Law, said the goal is to balance the value of the recovery facilities with the recognition that they also create anxiety for those living nearby.
"What I think the revised draft ordinance tries to do, on some level, is address the anxieties while preserving the model," he explained this week. "The revised ordinance is not a one-size-fits-all solution. We're not doing this ordinance to address any and all conceivable problems that may emerge with a recovery residence."
The certification would, however, give the city a better handle on how many sober living homes are operating and grant it some level of oversight.
The ordinance cleared a committee and will be heard at the council’s work session at October 21.