Planners OK regulations for group homes

The Newport Beach Planning Commission signed off on new rules to regulate group homes Thursday night, including a key provision that would require facilities such as drug and alcohol recovery homes to be at least 1,000 feet apart in certain parts of the city, Commissioner Michael Toerge said. Group homes that aren’t licensed by the state also would be banned in some of the city’s residential zones.

After more than three hours of discussion, the commission approved new rules in a 6-1 vote, with Toerge dissenting. The rules are intended to address residents’ complaints that some group homes generate noise, trash and other nuisances and are changing the character of residential neighborhoods. Next, the proposed rules will be vetted by an outside attorney the city could hire as soon as next week, and the City Council will vote on them later.