Packed meeting seeks solutions for sober-living homes

Frustrated with the proliferation of sober-living homes and tenants in their neighborhoods, more than 200 Costa Mesa residents packed an auditorium Wednesday night to hear City Hall’s plans about how to address them.

Unlike most gatherings, however, the question-and-answer session at College Park Elementary School was organized by College Park neighbors, who in turn invited various city officials to discuss potential solutions about problems surrounding homes that aid their tenants’ drug and alcohol recovery. It was led by a independent moderator, Jay Freedman, a Tustin resident.

City officials did most of the talking. They stressed the need to document problems on the “Costa Mesa Connect” smartphone app, and report any criminal activity to the Police Department. The existence of sober-living homes can also be reported so City Hall has a roster of their locations.

Many responses were geared toward explaining a newly enacted ordinance that could force the closure of many sober-living homes without state licenses if they are within 650 feet of one another in single-family neighborhoods and don’t have city permits.

As of now, about 10 of an estimated 60 sober-living homes have applied for the first-come, first-serve permits; the deadline is April 8.

The law is being challenged in federal court by two operators.

Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer noted that Newport Beach has spent millions unsuccessfully defending its sober-living regulations in court. Costa Mesa has learned from Newport’s mistakes, he said — and reportedly shouldered many sober-living homes that left there and moved to Costa Mesa.

Still, “we will spend whatever money it takes to make sure this problem gets handled in the proper legal way,” Righeimer said.

Councilwoman Katrina Foley said the recent proliferation of sober-living facilities in Costa Mesa — City Hall estimates about 175 citywide — was likely spurred by the recession. Foreclosed properties were picked up by sober-living operators, she said.

Righeimer warned the audience that its language couldn’t be discriminatory, because recovering addicts are considered a disabled class of people protected by state and federal law.

He noted that some sober-living operators and their attorneys were in the audience.

“If we trip a line and we do these wrongs and we discriminate, we lose,” Righeimer said. “It’s over. Game over.”

College Park resident and meeting organizer Deb Leedom called the session “a great start” for getting the word out for sober-living homes.

“I think it was a great way to get some questions answered, and hopefully mitigate some of the angst, fear and anger that’s been happening,” she said.

Leedom said her community may organize a similar event later this year.