The Gainesville City Council appears to be divided on — or at the very least, not in unanimous support of — a proposed group home for men who are recovering from substance abuse.
Synergy Recovery Center is looking to take over a half-acre piece of property on Cleveland Street, just south of Myrtle Street, to create a men's group home that would house 36 recovering abusers of drugs or alcohol.
Residents in the area have expressed concerns over safety, especially with children in the area, as well as increased foot traffic.
"There was quite a bit of public opposition to this," said Matt Tate, planning manager, referring to an August meeting of the Gainesville Planning and Appeals Board.
The facility would be taking over a 10-unit apartment complex constructed in 1987, turning one room into a manager's office and the other nine into four-person living quarters. Half the residents will be referrals from the justice system, while the other half will be self-admitted.
Residents of the group home would be required to perform daily chores, maintain a job, submit to random drug and alcohol screenings and abide by a "concrete" curfew, according to city documents.
Councilman Sam Couvillon, who will not be in attendance Tuesday when council gives the matter a final vote, is not in support of the plan.
"I'm not led to support this, not because I don't think it's a worthy cause, but I would ask any of us to put this in our neighborhood. It just doesn't fit in with the area around it," said Couvillon at Thursday morning's council work session.
Tate warned of possible problems with fair housing laws, since alcoholism is recognized as a legitimate disability.
Councilman George Wangemann expressed his support of the facility, citing the stringent rules the facility is putting in place.
"But any time you have children, there's concern," said Wangemann.
Mayor Danny Dunagan expressed a similar sentiment, while Councilman Zach Thompson did not offer a commitment one way or the other during the work session.
"It's a worthy and noble cause, but I'm sure we'll have more information Tuesday," said Thompson.
Councilwoman Barbara Brooks was absent from the meeting.
OTHER BUSINESS
- Council is moving forward with an update to the Hall Area Transit's alcohol and drug policy. The new policy, which comes at the request of the Georgia Department of Transportation, applies to anyone driving a "revenue vehicle" in the system, requiring random drug and alcohol screenings. Failing those tests would lead to termination or exclusion from hire.
