A proposed sober house in Jefferson faces an uncertain future as plans to pursue approval from the Jefferson Planning Board for a change of use on the building backers hope to use may be stalled.
As proposed, a sober living facility for male Lincoln County residents would be established in the former Curtis House on North Mountain Road in Jefferson.
Jefferson town officials have told the group behind the proposal that they need approval for a change of use from the Jefferson Planning Board before they could open the facility
Following an article in the July 22 edition of The Lincoln County News (“Proposed Jefferson sober house faces uncertain road,” Page 1) The Seven Tree Foundation, which owns the Curtis House, sent a letter to the Planning Board, Board of Selectmen and the people behind the sober house on July 23, expressing that they “have authorized no one to speak for us or to propose any change of use for the Curtis House.”
“That letter negates everything,” said Ralph Martin, the Chairman of the Planning Board. The Planning Board will not hear any proposals related to the sober house at this time, Martin said.
The proposed sober house, organized by Lincoln County Communities Against Substance Abuse, Healthy Lincoln County and Youth Promise, received vocal support from the Lincoln County Commissioners earlier this month.
When the group brought the proposal in front of the Jefferson Board of Selectmen at their regular meeting on July 19, several Jefferson residents voiced concerns about the project.
Residents were primarily concerned about the potential for residents at the house to be kicked out due to alcohol or drug relapse and become homeless. If those individuals requested help from the town, Jefferson is required by state law to provide support and financial assistance to help them find shelter.
Selectmen and Jefferson Code Enforcement Officer Stanley Waltz told sober house representative and CASA member Bobby Whear at that meeting that he would need to take the proposal in front of the Planning Board because it constituted a change of use for the property.
Following the appearance of July 22 article the Seven Tree Foundation sent their letter to ensure that the town was aware Seven Tree has not entered into any formal agreement about the future of the Curtis House, and will not pursue any change of use for the building until an agreement is made, said Rem Briggs, a Seven Tree board member.
Whear said he plans to meet with the Planning Board at their meeting on Aug. 3. The sober house is not on the agenda for that meeting, Martin said.
“We need to know whether we can use the property before we sign a lease,” Whear said.
