Pubdate: Wed, 20 Aug 2003
Source: Times-Journal, The (Fort Payne, AL)
Copyright: 2003 Times-Journal
Contact:  http://www.times-journal.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1883
Author: Steven Stiefel

ADDICT HOME DENIED

The Fort Payne Zoning Board of Adjustments denied a variance last week to 
the DeKalb County Fellowship House, which wanted to set up a facility on 
Alabama Avenue for recovering drug addicts.

At a "three-quarter-way house," addicts find a new living arrangement that 
provides another layer in the support structure designed to ease them back 
into mainstream society. While such a facility is welcomed by most people, 
those same people are not quite as eager to see one located in their own 
neighborhood.

Bill Cyr, of Mentone, is with Fellowship House. He said the variance was 
needed because Fort Payne's zoning law requires a review before someone can 
set up a group home. The intended property is 1614 Alabama Ave. North.

"There was not a single neighbor who supported it and adjoining property 
owners are concerned," Cyr said. "The ZBA unanimously denied the variance."

He declined to state what the next course of action might be, but the 
process allows for the ZBA's decisions to be appealed to circuit court if 
Fellowship House chose to do so.

"I can't answer what will happen next because we have a 13-member board of 
directors," Cyr said.

The organization unsuccessfully attempted to set up a home for addicts in 
Collinsville in 1995, but Cyr said a three-quarter-way house for male 
addicts has been operating on Forest Avenue in Fort Payne for about six 
years without a single incident.
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MAP posted-by: Keith Brilhart