Falls Township has done what other townships haven’t been able to figure out for several years.
The municipality’s board of supervisors voted last month to enact an amendment to govern group, recovery, half-way and “sober living” homes. The new measures allow for residents of the homes to live in a safe environment and outside of the Falls’ low-density residential zoning district.
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The change to township zoning laws will require group, recovery, half-way and “sober living” homes with six or more residents to be established in the highway commercial district, which already includes numerous residential uses and a neighborhood environment, according to Board Chairman Bob Harvie. The ordinance would not allow group homes in its low density residential district.
“This has been an issue in Falls and other townships nearby,” said Harvie.
Falls, which has very few known recovery homes and no recent complaints against the homes, according to Township Manager Peter Gray, has called the new ordinance “proactive” and said already established homes would be “grandfathered [in]” and not have to consider moving to a different zoning district within the township.
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In adjoining Bristol Township – an area that’s been chaotic as council members, residents, and administration disagree with how best to combat the issue – council recently approved township Solicitor Randy Flager to draw up a potential ordinance, one he hopes to present at the end of the month.
According to Flager, the ordinance will not be a flat-out moratorium on recovery homes, which he’s warned the council against. It would instead take a measured approach and place “reasonable regulations” on existing and future recovery and sober-living homes.
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Vice President Amber Longhitano, who has long pushed for a moratorium type of action, pushed forward a failed attempt at the township’s last council meeting to hire Montgomery County Sheriff and Attorney Sean Kilkenny as special counsel to handle the recovery house issue, hoping the recovery home issue would be pushed in a different direction rather than the direction Flager has proposed. While Longhitano and Councilman Patrick Antonello were in favor of hiring Kilkenny, who represents Morrisville Borough and the Falls’ Zoning Hearing Board, the motion was withdrawn before a vote.
A moratorium has initiated worries over violations of federal laws on fair housing and discrimination and have scared towns like Bristol Township away from ordinances on recovery homes over the last few years. During that time, the number of recovery homes in Lower Bucks County, especially Bristol Township, has exploded past 100.
While Flager said the goal of the information he will present to council will be to change ordinances within the confines of the law; Falls officials have maintained that their recently passed ordinance is legal and sets standards in place to make sure recovery homes and their surrounding neighbors are safe.
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Recently, Republican Congressman Mike Fitzpatrick (PA-8), Democratic State Rep. Tina Davis, and Democratic State Rep. John Galloway met with Falls officials and Longhitano to discuss possible solutions for the recovery home epidemic. The state representatives and Fitzpatrick’s office have been researching housing laws and working to find solutions for towns dealing with poorly-run recovery homes, often referred to as “rogue homes.” Davis is expected to announce a proposed bill that would allow recovery home owners to ensure their quality through a voluntary certification process.
As the recovery house issue surges up, those on the board of Tullytown Council are expected to consider authorizing their solicitor to research the issue.
