A proposal to let up to eight people live in Arlington recovery residences has received the Arlington Planning Commission’s support, despite some pushback.
Prior to a unanimous vote on Monday, commissioners acknowledged some residents’ concerns about how existing recovery houses affect surrounding Arlington neighborhoods.
However, they argued that issues such as frequent visits from emergency vehicles or alleged harassment of passersby are outside of the Planning Commission’s purview.
“I think the only issue that I heard that is zoning related, is the distance between the homes,” Commissioner Leonardo Sarli said. “I think that is something that we could discuss within the purview of [the Zoning Committee], the separation between the homes. I think the issues of EMS or phone calls or noise, I don’t know that we have any say on that matter.”
If approved, the amendment would allow up to eight individuals recovering from drug dependency to live together in one single-family home. Currently, no more than four unrelated people can lawfully share a single-family home in Arlington unless they are “related by blood, marriage or adoption.”
The proposal was initiated by a request from the Maryland-based nonprofit Oxford House, which operates six self-run recovery homes in Arlington. It would create an option for a special exception use permit for recovery residences, allowing them to have eight residents or to occupy housing types like duplexes or townhouses.
Arlington’s Community Services Board has argued that this kind of housing is sometimes essential for people’s successful recovery from substance addiction — improving access to community support, social networks and treatment providers.
At the Planning Commission meeting, however, several speakers raised concerns about quality of life in their neighborhoods and pointed out that the amendment lacks regulations on the proximity of multiple recovery residences to each other.
“This isn’t about denying the opportunity for recovery, but it is about creating a balance that ensures the safety and the stability of our neighborhoods,” an opponent said. “Allowing eight or more people to reside in a single-family home without restrictions eliminates a critical fail-safe that would help to maintain the integrity of the community.”
A county staff report noted that from August 2020 to August 2022, the Arlington County Police Department responded to 55 calls across all six recovery residences in the county.
The most frequent calls (25%) were administrative matters like protection orders and warrant services. Other calls included disputes and disorderly conduct (18%), personal or property crimes such as assault and harassment (18%) and trespassing incidents (13%). The remaining 26% were for various other issues.
While planning commissioners acknowledged residents’ concerns, they stressed that zoning regulations are not meant to “solve or dispute neighbor spats.” Instead, commissioners said other county agencies and programs should handle enforcement and oversight issues.
“I absolutely understand the concerns of the neighbors, and they are valid, but as we have discussed here tonight, these are not zoning issues. They are enforcement issues,” Commissioner James Lantelme said. “You could have — just as easily — a by-right house with four frat brothers in it who have a keg party every Saturday that would be just as obnoxious.”
Commissioners also voiced support for the underlying goal of the zoning amendment, which aims to provide equal housing access for those in recovery, paralleling accommodations made for group homes addressing mental illness or developmental disabilities.
Suzanne Somerville, bureau director for the Arlington Department of Human Services, noted that county staff have contacted Oxford House and facilitated communications with the community to resolve some issues residents have raised.
“The Oxford House staff had a meeting with the tenants and had a pretty direct conversation about concerns that were raised and it’s my understanding that things have gotten … better, or at least they are aware of the issues,” she said.
The Arlington County Board could vote on the amendment as early as Saturday, Oct. 19, at its next regular meeting.
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