The planning commission decided Monday not to allow conversion of this house as an outpatient treatment center for substance abuse.
The historic Albany house at 506 Ferry St. S.W., should not be converted as a commercial treatment center for people trying to overcome substance abuse, the city’s planning commission has decided.
The commission was closely divided on the issue. I caught up with the panel’s Monday meeting on YouTube and could not tell who voted which way. But JoAnn Miller, chair of the planning commission, called for a roll call vote and then declared that a motion to deny the request for a conditional use permit had passed.
Pretty much all the commission members agreed that treatment for drug and alcohol abuse was needed in Albany. But some of them said the development code does not allow the conversion of this house to provide a “community service” by a for-profit business.
The house is in the Monteith Historic District, which exists to protect old houses. The underlying zone is residential.
The new owners of the house wanted to use it as an outpatient drug and alcohol treatment center and earlier got approval to do so by a city hearings board, comprised of three planning commissioners.
That action was appealed, and the applicants withdrew their request. Then they refiled it, and a hearing was set before the full planning commission.
Monday’s planning commission action may be appealed to the city council. As of Wednesday night I don’t know if that’s what the applicants plan to do. (hh)
” But some of them said the development code does not allow the conversion of this house to provide a “community service” by a for-profit business.”
What does profit have to do with it? The business is suitable on its own merits or NOT.