Clustering group homes doesn't sit well with many at City Council

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Although Yakima city officials said regulating the location of "clean and sober" housing is beyond their jurisdiction, that didn't keep them from getting an earful from people upset that two such group homes will sit side by side in their neighborhood.

Yakima city attorney Jeff Cutter told the City Council at Tuesday night's meeting that a U.S. Supreme Court ruling requires that group homes like the one Oxford House will operate at 1406 Yakima Ave. "need to be treated just as a residential home in your neighborhood with a family living in it."

The issue arose when Alex Santillanes, whose home on Chestnut Avenue is across the alley from a group home operated by Triumph Treatment Services at 1408 Yakima Ave., recently complained to the council about having a second group home behind his house.

Speaking at Tuesday's meeting, Santillanes said he didn't think federal law intended to create "clusters" of group homes in a particular neighborhood. He expressed concern about the "value of property, and the safety of children" in the neighborhood.

His wife, Virginia Santillanes, said they and other neighbors were frustrated by the lack of notification that Oxford House planned to lease the house as a residence for up to eight women who are in recovery from drug and alcohol addictions.

Mayor Dave Edler asked Bill Cook, the city's community and economic development director, to clarify what was required in terms of notifying neighbors or city officials of the change in occupancy.

Cook said no building permit was required for the remodeling work done inside the house, and that since it is considered a single-family residence, there were no requirements for posting signs about a proposed land-use change.

"Oxford House was not required to put up big yellow signs," Edler said, adding that council members knew nothing about the second group home until they heard from Santillanes.

And the property owner who bought the house this summer told the council he's not happy about how the situation came about.

"We're feeling ethically and legally duped," said Dave McFadden, who is president of New Vision-Yakima County Development Association.

McFadden, who said he has retained a lawyer, told the council that when he and his wife bought the property as an investment, it was a triplex. He said the previous owner arranged the lease with Oxford House and converted the house back to a single-family residence before the sale closed.

Neighbors who spoke at the meeting weren't concerned about leases or federal restrictions on local zoning ordinances.

"I don't care what the federal people say," Virginia Santillanes told the council, "they're not having to live with these homes behind them."

No one disputed that group homes run by organizations such as Triumph and Oxford House -- which runs seven such facilities in Yakima -- provide a beneficial service for people in recovery who are trying to straighten out their lives.

"I just don't want them all in my backyard," said Rozanne Mecca, who also lives on Chestnut Avenue near Santillanes.

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