A planned expansion by Crossroads Sober Living hit a speed bump at Tuesday night’s Columbus City Council meeting after Ward 1 Councilwoman Ethel Stewart questioned whether nearby residents had been properly informed.
Crossroads, which is affiliated with Columbus Christian Center, is a transition house and sober living facility. It operates out of the old Wiygul Dental Clinic on South McCrary Road in East Columbus. The small size of the building limits the number of clients it can serve to about 20.
Last year the former owners of Friendship Church, located off of Yorkville Road West, donated the church building to Crossroads. Founder Dusty Snider told the Columbus Rotary Club last year the organization intended to turn it into a residential sober living rehabilitation facility.
Tuesday night, Building Official Kenny Wiegel asked the council to approve Crossroads’ permitted use request for the old church building, which is necessary because it is in an single-family residential zone. The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approving the request, but the final decision is the council’s.
Stewart wanted to know if the neighbors had been contacted.
“I’m concerned that it’s in a neighborhood,” Stewart said.
Wiegel said notices were sent to everyone who lived within 160 feet of the property, and only one person responded.
“They wanted a concealing fence put up,” Wiegel said. “There were 15 notices sent out, and no other comments were received.”
Snider said Crossroads intended to put up a fence “at some point.”
“We are a nonprofit, and our funds are going to trying to get the church set up,” Snider said. “We’re not opposed to it, but I don’t know if we can do it before we open.”
Wiegel said the zoning ordinance requires a commercial use that abuts a residential district to put up “screening” or at minimum a six-foot fence.
Stewart returned to the theme of the neighbors, and Snider said Crossroads had not had any problems so far.
“There’s a parsonage behind the church, and we’ve had three people over there for about a year now,” Snider said. “They’ve been cleaning the area up and we’ve not had any complaints. … So far the neighbors have loved us.”
Vice Mayor and Ward 2 Councilman Joseph Mickens moved, with a second by Ward 3 Councilman Rusty Greene, to approve the permitted use.
Stewart made a substitute motion to table until the council’s March meeting, with a second by Ward 6 Councilwoman Jacqueline DiCicco.
“I don’t want to sound negative, but I would like to visit with some citizens who live in that area,” Stewart said. “Give me another month to get their contact information and make sure they knew what they were getting when they received that letter. … I would like the blessing of knowing residents know what’s coming.”
Stewart’s motion passed unanimously.
Crossroads previously tried to lease the old Fire Station Number 4, located at the corner of South McCrary Road and Airline Road, but the city elected to try to sell the property instead. It is adjacent to Crossroads’ current location, and has sat vacant since Columbus Fire and Rescue built a new station across Highway 69 on Airline Road in March 2021.
Brian Jones is the local government reporter for Columbus and Lowndes County.
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