After more than a year of discussion and several delays, the Bristol Township Council voted to approve an ordinance that would govern recovery and group homes.
The ordinance would put size regulations for new recovery and group homes to operating in residential, commercial and neighborhood commercial zoning districts. It would also require distancing of 300 feet between recovery homes, require specific parking regulations and encourage the recovery homes to be governed by either a local (BCRHA), state (PARR) or federal association.
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Solicitor Randy Flager said the one changes was suggested by council and involved off-street parking for recovery home staff members.
“We’re not restricting where people can put a recovery home. The restriction is on the number of people in a recovery home and that sort of thing,” Flager said. “The object here is not discriminate but protect the residents of the recovery homes.”
The ordinance has been in the works for more than a year and involved several packed public meetings and hearings. Flager thanked the public and council for their work on the ordinance.
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Flager said Bristol Township’s ordinance was different than the other communities due to its guidelines.
Former Councilman Troy Brennan spoke out against the ordinance and claimed it opened the township to lawsuits.
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Flager, council member Patrick Antonello and Amber Longhitano all disagreed with Brennan’s claim.
The meeting got heated when Antonello asked Brennan if he was a resident of Bristol Township and if he had any financial interest in a recovery home.
The former council member shot back that he was considering opening a recovery home because of the possibility lawsuits could be filed against the township because of the new ordinance.
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“We all get it, you don’t like it. Good for you,” Antonello said of Brennan’s comments against the new regulations.
“This is not the full answer for the problem” Flagger said adding the state and federal government need to work with towns to solve the problem.
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“I would not make irresponsible decisions that can further hurt the financial stance of this township,” Brennan said.
Longhitano defended the ordinance made the claim that Brennan lived in New Jersey even while he was on council.
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Brennan just chuckled and returned to his point that he feared the ordinance would open the township to lawsuits.
Council President Craig Bowen brought order to the meeting.
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No other residents spoke at public comment about the ordinance. Last month, a public hearing drew comments from residents and recovery house owners.
Flager finished the discussion by thanking the public for speaking up and the responsible recovery homeowners for working with them on the ordinance.
Bristol Township has roughly 100 recovery homes within its borders.
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Related:
- Bristol Twp. Looks At Ordinance To Regulate Recovery Homes
- Proposed Recovery House Regulations Released For Public Review
- Middletown Approves Regulations For Recovery Homes
- Recovery House Hearing: ‘Levittown Today Is Becoming Kensington And Frankford Because Of Increased Drug Activity’
- Recovery Home Crisis: ‘Every One Of These People Deserve This Chance’
- Officials Announce Support For Recovery House Moratorium
- Recovery Homes Issue Draws Huge Crowd At Bristol Twp. Council Meeting
- Hearing on Recovery Houses Points to Safety Issues & Differences
