Sober house can’t add 2 residents

Deirdre Newman

The owner of a sober living group home in the Hall of Fame

neighborhood failed again in her quest to increase the number of

clients she can serve.

On Monday, the City Council voted 5 to 0 deny Eleanor Manion’s

appeal to increase the clients she serves at Dove Cottage from six to

eight, saying no new evidence of a “special need” was presented.

“I’m disappointed in the results,” said Eric Katz, Manion’s

attorney.

The city is embroiled in a lawsuit against Manion for already

exceeding the number of clients she is allowed to have. Neighbors

have made numerous complaints about the trash and other unpleasant

items strewn on their lawns, allegedly from clients of the home in

the 3100 block of Cork Lane.

On Feb. 10, the Planning Commission denied Manion’s expansion

request, citing problems caused by the current number of clients,

numerous police and code enforcement complaints and the lack of

salient information provided by Katz, who said he was hamstrung in

divulging information because of the lawsuit.

Katz appealed, arguing that it’s the city’s responsibility to

provide “reasonable accommodation” under the federal Fair Housing

Act, which bans discrimination against the handicapped. People

recovering from drug or alcohol addiction are considered handicapped

under the act.

The decision means that Manion will have to decrease the number of

clients to the city limit of six or face the city in court in June.

Neighbors of the home were relieved by the decision.

“There may be a need for Dove Cottage, but not for a Dove Cottage

hotel, and that’s what it looks like they’re going for,” resident Kim

Pederson said. “There’s nothing to show when those people are coming

or going.”

The group home first came to the city’s attention in July 2000

when the city received complaints that Manion was serving more than

the six residents she was allowed for the residential area.

In investigating the property, code enforcement officials

confirmed that more than six clients were living there. At that time,

the city filed a civil lawsuit against Manion for violating city

code.

Manion then applied for the increase, asserting that having more

residents living in the house decreases the chance that one resident

could isolate himself or herself, which would be detrimental to

recovery. Manion also claimed that adding more residents would not

adversely affect the neighborhood.

Katz argued that eight residents were necessary because there had

to be at least two in every room to provide peer support.

Mayor Karen Robinson used her legal authority and incisive

questioning to deflate many of Katz’s arguments for why the home

needed to serve eight people.

“I wasn’t provided any evidence that eight is better than six and

warrants a special need,” Robinson said. “Where does it stop? Why

don’t we have three to a room instead?”

* DEIRDRE NEWMAN covers Costa Mesa and may be reached at (949)

574-4221 or by e-mail at [email protected].