A nonprofit group's plan to turn a Rogers facility into a temporary home for rehabilitating veterans is one step closer following a split vote of approval for rezoning the property from the Rogers City Council on Tuesday.
About a dozen residents who live near the facility spoke against the rezoning of 615 W. Chestnut Street from office to residential-office during the public comment session of the regular meeting. No one spoke in favor during the session.
Mayor Greg Hines split the 4-4 vote by voting in favor. Council members Buddy Wright, Gary Townzen, Andrew Hatfield and Sam Jeffery voted against the rezoning. Clay Kendall, Betsy Reithemeyer, Mark Kruger and Marge Wolf voted for it.
The city council has the obligation to vote based on what is appropriate for zoning and not on the use of a property following zoning, Hines said. He said it was one of the toughest rezonings during his 15-year involvement with the city.
"If emotions were to prevail we could have ended up in litigation with no defense," Hines said.
The H.O.U.S.E. inc, a nonprofit corporation out of Webb City, Mo., plans to purchase the eight-bedroom house at 615 W. Chestnut Street, said Bill Watkins, an attorney representing the nonprofit group. The property was foreclosed in recent years and is owned by Community First Bank of Eureka Springs.
The sale of the home was contingent on rezoning from office to residential-office, Watkins said. He said the nonprofit group plans to open a transitional living center for veterans.
The veterans would stay at the home voluntarily while going through a 28-day program, Watkins said. He said the veterans could need rehabilitation for a number of reasons, including drug use, post traumatic stress disorder or family relationship problems.
Kenneth McManus of Rogers said he was against the facility going into the residential area.
"I am ex-military," McManus said. "I support anything I can for veterans but in this neighborhood I feel this is the wrong thing to do. We have children in this neighborhood"
Angela Oehlert, another resident, said she has lived across the street from the property for 20 years.
"I have grandchildren," Oehlert said. "Two of my children have said, if that goes in, my grandchildren will not be able to come visit me. This breaks my heart."
Oehlert said her husband, son and brother are veterans and she supports veteran programs. She does not support this facility in a residential area.
Veterans staying at the facility will be bused to Fayetteville during the day for treatment, Watkins said. He said they will have restrictions at the home while living there. For example, they have a curfew and will be unable to leave the house at certain times.
Wolf said it was a "bad situation" for everyone.
"I have many members of my family who have served or still are," Wolf said. "I would hate to think my husband, son or father would someday need this service and they couldn't get it."
The organization's website states it has been in operation since 1996. It operates seven residential homes in Joplin, Webb City and Jasper County, Mo.
Either residential-office or residential-duplex property border the home, Watkins said during the meeting. He said the organization would be allowed to put the facility in any of these other zonings.
"This group would be permitted in every single area for blocks and blocks and blocks around this property," Watkins said. "This is an appropriate use."
Watkins said the property, itself, was zoned residential-office prior to the early 2000s. He said it traditionally has served as a group home since the mid-'70s.
Derrel Smith, Rogers city planner, said there will not be any other board or council approvals needed for the nonprofit. The organization will need to pass an inspection. He said this could include installing a sprinkler system in the house.
Teresa Moss can be contacted by email at [email protected] or on Twitter @NWATeresaM
A Section on 03/11/2015