Delray Newspaper | July 2017

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Delray Beach aims to limit number of group homes per block in proposed rule change By: Marisa Herman Associate Editor For years city officials have heard similar complaints from various neighborhoods: sober homes are taking over. Sober homes are intended to be the end of the recovery process where sober people choose to live sober lives together as they transition back into society. Frustrated by the inability to change any local rules because people in recov-

ery are protected under various federal laws, city officials have unsuccessfully tried to combat the issue. The city was challenged in court several years ago and since then has been rallying the support of state and federal lawmakers to help with the influx of sober homes.

The city commission is scheduled to review the proposed rule this month. It received the green light from the city’s planing and zoning board last month. If approved, the rule would be one of the first of its kind in the state, according to the city.

Now, the city is looking to distance where group homes can be located in a new proposed city ordinance and required they are licensed, certified or accredited from a regulatory body.

The proposed rule would prevent a new sober home from opening on the same block where one is already operating. To help weed out unscrupulous operators, the city would require proof of license

from a group like the Florida Association of Recovery Residences. The rule would apply to all types of group housing, not just sober homes. “This isn’t targeting the recovery community at all,” interim city attorney Max Lohman told the city’s planning and zoning board before they voted on the rule. “It’s important we have regulations out there that protect everyone.” City officials say the goal

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Commissioners debate, appoint old, new faces to city advisory boards Every summer the city commission spends several meetings filling its volunteer advisory boards.

role is to market the downtown and promote business. It was created by state resolution in 1971. It receives money from levying a tax on downtown property owners. Board members oversee the budget and serve four year terms.

“This is a gentleman who has moved into West Atlantic and has been committed to the growth of that area and has expanded his business,” Chard said of his nomination of Conde. “I think we need a representative from the west on the DDA.”

Some boards require people with a specific skill set others just a resident willing to spend several hours meeting a month on a topic.

Two members were reappointed to their posts, Frank Frione and Mark Denkler. Commissioner Jim Chard appointed a new face, Dr. John Conde.

Commissioner Shelly Petrolia agreed.

By: Marisa Herman Associate Editor

This summer, some of the nominations became contentious with commissioners blocking their colleague’s selections and not always agreeing on who should serve. When it came to filling the Downtown Development Authority board, commissioners were in sync. The DDA’s

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“I am very glad to see his name on here,”

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