By Terrance Thornton | Paradise Valley Independent
A collection of residents are raising concerns regarding an alleged sober-living facility operating outside of established zoning privileges at 6710 E. Fanfol Drive in the Town of Paradise Valley.
“I have lived in the same house for 47 years,” said Paradise Valley resident Sande Simon in a Sept. 5 phone interview.
“My husband was on the town council and what has been going on he would have never allowed — we have a sober-living house at the end of our street.”
A sober-living facility, or sober home, as classified by both state and federal guidelines, seeks to help drug and alcohol addicts achieve sobriety and reintegrate into society at large. The 1968 Fair Housing Act was created to eliminate discrimination, allowing housing choices for all Americans despite, among other things, race, color, religious preference or gender.
Jordan Rose, who has successfully represented multiple neighbor groups opposing various sober living homes, both in Paradise Valley and other Valley municipalities, said, “Every case we have dealt with is unique in terms of how a neighborhood can prevail to protect their residential character. In this case, the neighborhood has the town ordinances on their side in that this operator appears to be clearly violating the law.”
