Deseret News | Highland neighbors angry over plans for drug-rehab home

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Highland neighbors angry over plans for drug-rehab home

Hypocrisy | 1:24 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

When it was up for debate, residents didn't show up... at two meetings.

Now they want to complain? Sorry Highland residents, deal with your own negligence. Maybe you'll show up at city council meetings next time.

Evets | 1:25 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Many neighborhoods in Utah have had the same experience and no one has been able to successfully block these homes.
I wish our politicians could figure out a way to solve this problem but I wonder even if that is possible.

Former Highland Resident | 1:41 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

I used to live in Highland, and people there get so worked up over every little thing. Listen folks, the only place you can discriminate about who moves in and who doesn't is in a gated community. If you don't live in one of those, you have to live with it.

The worst part is, you would have people believe that it would be better off in another neighborhood, on the other side of Highland - well, what about the people in that neighborhood? Are their kids not as important as yours? Is their property not as important as yours? This is a rehabilitation house - people who want to change their lives and make them better.

Get over yoruselves, and your attitudes of being better than everyone else!

Comments continue below

Where is the... | 1:56 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Where is the Christ like love?

Quite the snooty place! | 2:12 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

Highland does not even want...........(check with the city council's office), let alone a rehab home!
Next to Alpine, they are the BEST(or so they think).
Just ask Jason Chaffetz, former ALPINE COUNTRY CLUB resident.

wasting your time | 2:46 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

dealing with the city, their hands are tied thanks to the state and federal mandates on these types of residential uses. Just so every reader understands, these kinds of facilities can go into any neighborhood in any city or town throughout the state. They do not need to have notice or hearings, the state and federal laws allow them into any neighborhood. If you want to use your time wisely, then start with the federal level. I know that sounds like an oxy-moron, but it is the only way such a law will get changed. It is known as the "Fair Housing Act". Unfortunately, it is only fair for the treatment facilities themselves, not the residents that surround them.

Oh, and by the way, good luck with bleed heart liberal federal government in getting this changed - it doesn't look possible in my view. But hey, crazier things have happened!!

Murray09 | 2:46 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009

We have a rehab home in our neighborhood. The neighbors made a lot of arguments similar to the Highland community trying to keep the rehab home out of our community. So far, the home has been good. The residents keep to themselves, and there have been no problems in the last few years they have been here.

not too fast | 11:01 a.m. Oct. 16, 2009

don't read a few paragraphs and assume you know all of the facts. there is much more to this that what is in the article. this specific neighborhood is Not part of the country club and the great majority of the people here are not members of the country club. this facility is a level 1 center with residents that are less than a week off drugs and alcohol. scary if you ask me.

ok | 11:05 a.m. Oct. 16, 2009

if i lived in this area I would be worried about the locals who deal the drugs there as it is well for a while that it goes where the money is. the home is run very strictly and each client faces some very stiff penalties if they mess up. so worry about the ones outside of rehab!

Anonymous | 2:32 p.m. Oct. 16, 2009

this whole thing is extremely shady and everyone is forgetting the fact that this is a business not a treatment facility that a company is making money off of by how many heads are in there at one time. A business and especially one that puts children's safety at risk is not allowed in a residential neighborhood. Also, how can you attend a meeting and fight against something that you have no clue is on the agenda? Maybe the obvious fact that not one person showed up is a clue. They didn't even investigate the facts before they made a decision just listened to the company that wants to move in. Hint: IF YOU WANT TO KNOW WHAT IS GOING ON IN YOUR NEIGHBORHOOD, ATTEND EVERY SINGLE CITY COUNCIL MEETING WITHOUT FAIL. This is a middle class neigborhood. If it can happen in ours..it can happen in yours! The statistics are that around 50% will relapse. Would you like the relapses to happen next door to your children? ALso this is a Treatment I Facility which means they are less than a week sober and coming from Bluffdale prison, Gunnison prison, etc.

Anonymous | 2:39 p.m. Oct. 16, 2009

just another example of the political system failing the people. The Highland City Council should be ashamed of themselves for not even trying to defend the rights of the people of Highland who should be their first priority not roll over or be intimidated by a private company assuming to do business with the government in a residential area.

Anonymous | 5:52 p.m. Oct. 16, 2009

This is what was on the Highland City, City Council agenda for Sept. 1, 2009:

" 8:30 8.3 Makin Homes request for a reasonable accommondation to house up to eight(8) disabled persons according to restrictions and regulations governed by state law - David Church, Lonnie Crowell - (10 min.)"

The "full agenda" which is the packet that each City Council member receives is 65 pages long. The Makin Homes information begins on page 58. So, if residents were concerned they had to look at the agenda and then scroll to page 58 to discover that this was a recovery home request and page 59 before the location is revealed. Why couldn't Highland City put the phrase "recovery home" on the agenda? Because they knew that this would cause the home owners to come out in force! They wanted to pass this with as little controversy as possible, it is an election year for the mayor and 2 City Council members.

This is also close to Lone Peak High School and Mountain Ridge Junior High, what is the law for how close recovery homes can be to schools?

concerned | 12:21 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Residents really need to write their representatives if they want this to change. These facilities do not belong in a single family residential zone. These are money making ventures and more people are wanting to own these facilities because they can basically locate them anywhere and they have the potential to make a lot of money for the owners. There needs to be a distinction in the law between a disability that is self imposed and one that is not.

Yes, it is good that addicts are trying to get clean and get a fresh start, but why not have facilities like this in commercial zones, not single family residential zones.

dj | 2:16 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

"
Evets | 1:25 p.m. Oct. 15, 2009
Many neighborhoods in Utah have had the same experience and no one has been able to successfully block these homes.
I wish our politicians could figure out a way to solve this problem but I wonder even if that is possible.
"

Actually, over ten years ago our neighborhood successfully stopped such a home. It was done with a lot of work and involvement by many people, and the final city council vote was altered by a "conflict of interest" issue discovered and brought against a certain council member. (He was friends with the desired proprietor or similar.)

Maybe someone who was more involved that I will comment and tell more.
It does help to know what is going on at council meetings, and to know your representatives.

sa | 4:01 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

At least they are trying to rehabilitate the drug users and not criminilize them. It would not bother me to have a rehab center next to my home.

xscribe | 7:45 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

I love the irony of this, as usual: We need to do something about this problem, but "not in my backyard."

Sa pull your head out | 8:05 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

I worked at one of these homes for 5 years where the patrons try to overcome their problems. Many times they cannot overcome them in a short period of time due to past drug usage and addiction. When the patrons flip out they can become overly abusive verablly and physically, and often have to be restrained.

I did not want my wife or children to witness these outbursts as it serves no good purpose.
I cannot imagine why the Makin Homes people would want this in a regular subdivision. There are many properties available that are on acreages or further out so when the patrons flip out they and their anger can be contained without hurting other people or their property.

Lee | 9:00 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Those of you critisizing the residents of this nieghborhood should invite this type of housing into YOUR nieghborhood.But you won't and for the SAME reason these folks are worried about.

xscribe | 9:21 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Have one in my neighborhood. No problems so far.

Lee | 9:59 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

TO xscribe, GOOD FOR YOU BOY SCOUT, I still don't want one in mine!

I know the worry, | 10:20 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

I felt worry when they were going to build an LDS
ward close to my home. After they built it things did not change much. But I was a little worried about more missionaries bothering me and such. But so far so good. So, be open minded and let them build a half way house next to you. It's better that a Ward.

your hiding from reality | 10:41 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

in your words of hippocrasy!!

Feds | 10:58 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Highland City can do nothing to stop this. It is a federal law they have a right to go into any neighborhood. Fed law trumps even Highland. Put your energy in seeing how you can work with this home and better the lives of the people receiving treatment there. I Arizona we had one as a neighbor. We were all flying around backwards when they came in. We and other neighbors did volunteer work there to find out "what was really going on" and found they there we just people trying to better themselves. Lets work together.

Kissel25 | 11:04 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

There has been one of these homes on 9600 North in Highland for a few months now. After some initial stupid reactions by neighbors (signs pointing it out, etc.) it has settled down. There have been ZERO issues.

BobP | 11:14 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

And NIMBY raises its ungly head.

basinboy | 11:17 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

Unfortunately, under federal and state laws, these facilities are treated the same as a single family dwelling for zoning purposes. The laws came into effect when the large hospitals for the disabled were closed in favor of residential treatment. It will take federal action to change the law and narrow the definition of disability. No chance of this happening with the current bleeding-heart liberal majority in Congress. In the meantime, make sure that the DHS and Police Dept. keeps a close eye on the facility.

Good thing | 11:34 a.m. Oct. 19, 2009

they are putting this home in a good neighborhood where the disabled folks won't find any drugs or alcohol.

wallofvoodoo | 12:02 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

It is strange that they would put it in such an expensive place. It seems there is something else in play than making a quick buck.

But I also say who cares. Most of the offenders should feel right at home since that is where they came from. Why should they not be able to be there? Just because a bunch of self righteous rich people are upset about the only thing that gets them upset, money.

Their real worry...home values | 4:38 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

To: Highland Moms,

Don't worry about your kids, Jimmy and Sally will be in the basement doing wiid, errr, playing wii, and we all know your real concern is home value but Obama is fixing it so that everyone will be equal!

Within a mile | 8:18 p.m. Oct. 19, 2009

We had this happen in Sandy and found out there was a provision that there cannot be a group home within a mile of another group home. And it was 'as the crow flies'.

On the road the measurement was over a mile, but as the crow flew it was within the mile radius so they had to find a different home to buy.

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