Rockford rejects expansion of group homes for recovering addicts

Rockford City Council rejected a request for an increase in the number of residents allowed in single-family houses that are being operated as group homes for recovering alcoholics and addicts.

The operator of the program, Oxford House, asked the city for a zoning variance to increase the number of people allowed in their group homes. Council voted it down Monday.

Neighbors signed petitions and wrote letters opposing the expansion.

Oxford House lawyers say the residents in their group homes are considered "disabled persons" under the law and therefore protected by it and the Fair Housing Act. They asked to increase the number of residents allowed at the homes beyond the six permitted in areas zoned R-1.

They describe the homes as "self-run, self-supported recovery homes," but not "abuse centers, halfway houses, shelters or rehabilitation care facilities."

Oxford House sought to increase the number of residents allowed at 5383 Pepper Drive house from six to nine; 6274 Brigantine Lane to 13; increase the number of residents allowed at 1234 National Ave. to nine; increase the number of residents allowed at 5946 Weymouth Drive to eight; and increase the number of residents allowed at 3522 Applewood Lane to eight.

Jeff Kolkey can be reached at (815) 987-1374, via email at jkolkey@rrstar.com and on Twitter @jeffkolkey.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Rockford denies request to expand group homes capacity