Town Planning Commission OKs Warren Coalition recovery house

At its regular meeting on March 15, the Planning Commission reviewed a proposal by the Warren Coalition to locate an addiction recovery house in its facility at 200 North Royal Avenue. The Special Use Permit (SUP) for a “lodging house” attracted 9 speakers at the public hearing, two of which were occupants or owners of nearby properties.

Town Planning Commission members listen intently as Warren Coalition Executive Director Christa Shifflett describes a new residential recovery facility to be located at 200 North Royal Avenue. Royal Examiner Photos Stephen Sill

Zoning Administrator John Ware briefed the commission on the ordinances controlling the use.  The property has been used as a lodging house in the past, from 1989 to 2019, prior to the adoption of the ordinance.  Because that use ceased for more than 3 years, the ordinance requires the SUP.  The property does have adequate parking, and the planning staff recommended approval subject to the occupancy not exceeding 10 persons, and parking to be provided for 8 vehicles.

Warren Coalition Executive Director Christa Shifflett addressed the commission about the specifics of the proposal, which calls for a residential capacity not to exceed 10 persons, with average stay length of 9-12 months.  Residents are expected to have or get jobs, and the coalition assists with miscellaneous needs such as specialized clothing or interim transportation.  The facility will not provide meals for the residents, but has a kitchen facility that residents can use to prepare meals for themselves.  Residents will be responsible for obtaining their own supplies, living items, and proof of employment to qualify to live in the facility.  Shifflett also said that security cameras will be extensively employed inside and outside the facility.  The rules established for the facility include a provision for regular drug screening.  Substance abuse or violent behavior will be grounds for immediate termination.  All residents will be required to be in some form of outpatient treatment, including but not limited to counseling thru Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT), Alcoholics Anonymous (AA), or Narcotics Anonymous (NA). Currently, a lack of local residential recovery facilities in this region may require prospective residents to travel as far away as Richmond or Virginia Beach, meaning there is an additional time and travel burden on families and residents who come from the local area.

Chairman Darryl Merchant opened the public hearing to hear from 9 speakers.  Two speakers were property owners in the immediate area of the subject property.  Phil Caslavka owns a nearby residence on Virginia Avenue.  He surfaced the concern that there is drug-dealing and usage activity in the immediate area.  “In this block we already have a problem with drug-related issues”, he said.

Resident Phil Caslavka addresses the Town Planning Commission to express his concerns about locating a residential recovery facility in his immediate neighborhood at 2nd St and Royal Avenue.

Mr. Caslavka also cited instances of confrontations with violent individuals, even finding a knife under the window of his daughter’s room, finding drug paraphernalia and beer bottles in his yard.  He concluded by saying, “We do have a current problem here, and I don’t think this would be something that would help that problem.”

Stephen Bieker, whose property adjoins the proposed lodging house, also addressed the commission, describing drug dealing in the bank parking lot next door, discarded needles in his yard, previous instances of violent behavior by residents in the former lodging house, to the extent that he put up a fence between the properties to protect his children.  He reminded the commission that the building was in a “Drug-free zone” and a zone.  “I don’t believe it would be a good fit for our town.”

Seven more speakers spoke in favor of the facility, among them recovering addicts who had benefited from similar facilities.  Brandon Butler spoke eloquently of the need for recovering addicts to have someplace safe to go when completing treatment – a place to find employment, stability, and acceptance. He spoke of his own experience in recovery and readjusting to a normal life.  He also addressed the resident’s concerns about existing drug activity in the area.   “I’ve been an addict for over 20 years of my life, and I know if you put a recovery house in a neighborhood, it kind of pushes away that element, if it’s there.”

It was observed that those in addiction treatment programs and recovery facilities are as a rule people who want to make the change in their lives to stay away from addictive behavior and not relapse into substance abuse that has already negatively impacted, not only their lives, but often the lives of family members around them.

Brandon Butler tells the Planning Commission about his own experience in recovery from drug addiction through treatment programs and a new beginning made possible by residential recovery houses.

Michael Hall, who will be the facility’s resident manager and Peer Recovery Specialist, also addressed the Commission to talk about his own experience with recovery and treatment.

“What addicts need most is hope, and without a place to go to get started, it’s hard to sustain the hope you have when you finish treatment.  This house will provide that stable, safe environment,” Hall told the commissioners.

Warren Coalition Peer Recovery Specialist Michael Hall describes his own experience with recovery and his opportunity to manage a new recovery facility in Front Royal.

At the conclusion of the public hearing, the commissioners had the opportunity to question the Warren Coalition executive director.  Commissioner Michael Williams had a series of questions.  “You mentioned that the residents would be referred.  What agency or entity will be doing the referring?”  Answer: “Residents will be referred from local treatment facilities such as National Capital Region in Fairfax,  several facilities in Richmond, as far away as Galax – these are local people who are in treatment that far away.”

After extensive discussion, the commission, on a motion by Commissioner Williams, seconded by Commissioner Connie Marshner, voted unanimously to recommend approval of the permit with the cited rules, oversight and surveillance to assure house ruled are observed.  The request will now go to the town council for final action.

The Commission also voted to advertise a public hearing on April 19 for the Town’s Comprehensive Plan update.  The commission and planning department have been working on that project for over a year.

The Meeting was adjourned at 7:50 p.m.

Watch the full video on the Town website.