By Parker Leavitt | The Arizona Republic
Gilbert officials are weighing new regulations on “sober houses” that would require them to seek a special permit through a public process before opening their doors to people recovering from substance abuse.
The proposed code amendment stems from an apparent proliferation of the facilities, also referred to as halfway houses, and a series of neighborhood complaints related to disturbances, noise and an unfavorable perception of the group homes’ residents, Gilbert zoning administrator Mike Milillo said.
Sober houses provide a transitional facility for 10 to 15 residents adjusting from life in an institution to a “real-world” setting without supervision or caregivers. By living with a group, the residents can support one another in their efforts to abstain from drugs or alcohol before moving on to greater independence.
The concept is nothing new, but Gilbert’s Land Development Code does not address that type of use in residential neighborhoods. The town’s definition of a “family” allows for as many as five unrelated individuals living in a single household, but sober houses always include more, Milillo said.
Gilbert’s code does allow group homes for people with disabilities, but the sober houses differ in that they are not licensed by the state and do not provide care for residents, Milillo said.
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