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<br />Planning and Zoning Commission <br />Minutes of July 17, 2008 <br />Page 5 of 7 <br /> <br />Ayes: <br />Nayes: <br />Abstain: <br /> <br />Kaminski, Berner, Finch, Barrera, Lawler and Muston <br />None <br />None <br /> <br />12. OPEN PUBLIC HEARING TO RECEIVE CITIZEN INPUT ON SPECIAL CONDITIONAL USE PERMIT <br />REQUEST #SCU08-003 FOR 2.44 ACRES OF LAND, LOTS 1 THRU 32, BLOCK 867, INCLUDING <br />TR A ABANDONED ALLEY, TOWN OF LA PORTE, JOHNSON HUNTER SURVEY, ABSTRACT 35, <br />LA PORTE, HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS. PASTOR KAREN WILHELM C/O THE CHRIST LUTHERN <br />CHURCH SEEKS A PERMIT FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A WOMEN'S RECOVERY CENTER TO <br />BE LOCATED AT 942 SOUTH 14TH STREET, WHICH IS CLASSIFIED AS A CONDITIONAL USE IN <br />A LIGHT INDUSTRIAL (L1) ZONE. <br /> <br />Chairperson Muston opened the Public Hearing at 7:48 p.m. <br /> <br />A. STAFF PRESENTATION <br /> <br />Staff's Report was presented by Mr. Malik. The applicant, Pastor Karen Wilhelm has requested <br />a special conditional use permit to develop a women's recovery facility (three-quarter house) at <br />942 South 14th St. <br /> <br />Public notices were mailed to seven property owners located within 200' from the subject <br />property. One response was received in opposition. <br /> <br />B. PROPONENTS <br /> <br />Pastor Karen Wilhelm stated the north portion of the building is used for a child care center. <br />There is a fire wall between the two businesses which is in compliance with Harris County. <br />Women residents will be employed, possibly even as a day care worker. There will be an <br />outside area for the women on the south part of the property. This is considered a three-quarter <br />house, not a halfway house. These women will be there because they want to be there, not <br />because it is mandatory they be there. <br /> <br />Marie Meehan stated Pastor Wilhelm had previously run The Bay House for 18 years. This new <br />business will be held to stricter policies. This would be the next step for women leaving a drug <br />rehab program. There will be a faith based 12-step program. Background checks will be <br />performed. The workers are not "certified" and Ms. Meehan will be the Director. <br /> <br />Commissioners inquired if workers would be State licensed, how many will be housed and how <br />long will they stay. Pastor Wilhelm responded they are not required to be licensed and they will <br />house 17 women that can stay up to 6 months. <br /> <br />Ms. Meehan stated the women will be required to pay rent. They will have a curfew of 10 p. m. <br />Some behavior issues are "no tolerance" and could warrant immediate removal from the facility. <br />Some issues fall under the 3 strike rule- "3 strikes and you are out." <br /> <br />Todd Page stated he is a La Porte resident and a volunteer worker for the Lutheran Church. He <br />is in recovery and is ecstatic about the possibility of the women's house to be of service to the <br />people in need. <br /> <br />Theresa Behr was able to go to Mega House and has been with the church. She is very much <br />in favor of the three-quarter house. <br /> <br />Stacie McNaughten left treatment in March and is not back with her family yet. This will be a <br />great asset since there are not very many facilities available in the area. <br />