Sept. 18

-Police responded to a complaint of loud music at a neighbor’s house in the 4600 block of Ridge Cliffe Drive. The homeowner, who admitted to having been warned to turn down the music several times, was cited for a noise ordinance violation.

-A caller in the 1300 block of Lakeside Circle reported neighbors screaming and things being thrown in a neighbor’s townhome. Police responded and separated the parties.

-Police stopped a car at Interstate 35E and Interstate 494 and cited the juvenile male driver for street racing, driving 104 mph in a 60 mph zone. The boy and his juvenile passenger were also cited for violating curfew.

-A caller in the 3800 block of Ballantrae Road reported that a man and woman were screaming at and pushing one another and throwing things, and that the woman had bitten the man. The woman was arrested for domestic assault.

-A caller in the 1000 block of Gemini Road reported that her husband, with whom she drives a semi-truck, had hit her in the head and tried to keep her from calling 911. She said they live in the semi and that he “hits her all the time,” but that she isn’t afraid of him because she can “kick his (expletive).”

-A caller in the 3500 block of Widgeon Way reported that someone took all four tires and rims from his car overnight. Police collected the car’s lug nuts to test them for DNA.

-A caller in the 500 block of Crane Creek Lane reported that her ex-boyfriend was trying to get into her home, yelling threats, and that he had climbed onto the back patio, threatening to kill her and her current boyfriend. Police arrested the ex-boyfriend.

-A caller in the 2900 block of Skyline Drive reported that someone used shaving cream to draw lewd photos and write profanities on a mailbox.

-Police responded to a two-vehicle accident at Lexington Avenue and Lexington Point Parkway and cited one driver for failure to yield.

-A caller in the 1200 block of Town Centre Drive reported that a man was threatening to “kick his (expletive)” and that he was sitting in his car because the man was “much bigger.” Police removed the man from the premises.

-A caller in the 4000 block of Blackhawk Road told police that her husband was suicidal and had just driven away, threatening to drive his truck off a bridge. The woman told police that he had a history of suicidal behavior, had overdosed on pills in the past and carries a knife with him. Police found the man and determined that he was safe.

-A caller in the 3100 block of Coachman Road reported that a drunken woman was knocking on the door and refusing to leave. She refused to take a preliminary breath test and was taken to detox.

Sept. 19

-Police stopped a motorist in the 1200 block of Promenade place and arrested the driver for DUI.

-A caller in the 800 block of Wilderness run Road reported that her mother was “going crazy.” The 16-year-old girl said she wanted to retrieve items for school, and that her mother hadn’t gotten a box of tissues that she needed. an officer drove her to a drugstore to buy the tissues, then took her to school.

-A caller in the 1700 block of four Oaks Road reported an altercation in which a man hit a woman in the face four times and broke her cell phone. Police got a description and issued a warrant for the man for fifth-degree domestic assault.

-A caller in the 1000 block of Northview Park Road said she wasn’t home, but a neighbor had called and told her that someone was in her house. Police met three juvenile males leaving the home carrying beer. All three were cited for possession of alcohol.

-A caller in the 800 block of Cornwallis Court reported that someone had taken an access card out of a satellite TV receiver.

-A caller in the 1900 block of Rahncliff Court told police that she and her boyfriend had argued, and that he was intoxicated and had driven to their home. Police cited him for driving with a revoked license.

-A caller in the 4400 block of Cinnamon Ridge Circle told police that his son was receiving threats from a neighbor via cell phone and Facebook. Police took photos of the text messages and made printouts of the Facebook messages and plan to file charges of disorderly conduct or harassment.

-A caller in the 4800 block of Redpoll Court reported that his ex-roommate had broken a window, taken items from the home and charged items on his credit card.

-Police stopped a vehicle at Blackhawk Road and Diffley Road and cited the driver for driving with a suspended license, driving with expired vehicle tabs and driving with no insurance.

-An employee of Walmart in the 1300 block of Town Centre Drive reported two suspicious customers. Police arrested both women for theft and outstanding warrants.

-Police stopped a vehicle at Interstate 494 and Pilot Knob Road and cited the driver for marijuana possession and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sept. 20

-Police stopped a vehicle in the 1300 block of Town Centre Drive and plan to file charges against the driver for drug possession.

-Police responded to a one-vehicle accident at the drivers’ exam station in the 2000 block of Cliff Road. a driver taking a driver’s test was cited for careless driving; the driver examiner was taken to the hospital.

-Police investigated the vandalism of two vehicles in the park-and-ride lot at Blackhawk Road and Cliff Road. The vandals stole two garage door openers, a set of keys and a vehicle owner’s manual.

-Police stopped a vehicle at Duckwood Drive and Pilot Knob Road and arrested the driver on outstanding warrants.

-A caller in the 4100 block of Rahn Road reported that someone backed into her car, causing minor damage to her rear bumper.

-A caller in the 1200 block of Duckwood Trail reported that someone had stolen an XBox 360 game system, an iPod Touch and a set of speakers.

-A caller in the 1500 block of 1500 Thomas Lake Pointe Road told police that she was sexually harassed by a cable company employee in early August. The cable installer touched her inappropriately and tried to kiss her, the woman reported. She said a cable company employee told her not to call 911, but another employee advised her to report it.

-An employee of Cherokee Sirloin Room in the 4600 block of Nicols Road reported that four people had written a bad check for $109 and left the restaurant.

-Police arrested an underage male at Camberwell Road and Dodd Road, cited him for underage drinking and possession of tobacco and released him to his father.

-Police stopped a vehicle at Denmark Avenue and Duckwood Drive and cited a 32-year-old man for driving with a revoked license and violating an order for protection. One passenger, a 28-year-old woman, was cited for providing false information to police, and another passenger, a 41-year-old woman, was cited for driving with a suspended license.

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Google MapsFederal City Road in Lawrence Township

LAWRENCE — after months of acrimonious hearings that pitted neighbors against a local developer, the township zoning board last night refused to grant a variance that would have allowed a residential drug and alcohol detox center to be located in a commercial center on Federal City Road.

Board members spent an hour and a half discussing the matter before casting a 4-2 vote against developer John Simone’s proposal to locate a Sunrise Detox center on the border of an adult community and other neighborhoods.

“The proposed use is not an inherently beneficial use,” said board chairman Peter Kremer. “I don’t think the proposed site is particularly suited to this use.”

Board member Stephen Brame agreed. “while Lawrenceville was chosen as the venue for this facility, I saw the scope of its service was well beyond the borders of Lawrence Township,” he said.

Potential clients could be coming from New York and beyond.

The board’s decision to reject the application was greeted with clapping and cheers from the packed room.

Board members Sam Pangaldi and Leona Maffei voted in favor of the variance. “I think to anyone who is addicted and needs a place to go for help, this is an inherently beneficial use,” said Maffei.

In a series of hearings that drew hundreds of objectors each month, Simone tried in vain to convince the board that the facility would serve an “inherently beneficial use” to the community, a key factor in obtaining a zoning variance.

Last night he said he was surprised and disappointed with the board’s vote. “We thought they understood the law and would have dealt with this differently. We thought we had the votes we needed.”

Many board members said they found the facility would not be an inherently beneficial use because Simone had stressed it would cater to a wealthy clientele and would not accept people who had no money or insurance to pay.

Simone disagreed with that finding.

“Not all inherently beneficial uses are nonprofit,” Simone said.

Simone’s proposal was hotly contested by residents who mounted a well-organized opposition to the project. At the heart of the neighbors’ objections was the fear that desperate addicts would slip past security at the facility and wander neighborhood streets in search of money for a fix or a way out of town.

Their presence at the hearings prolonged the application process as they relentlessly cross-examined the experts Simone brought in to help build his case. The residents also presented their own experts who testified against the proposal.

Last night the objectors said they were pleased with the vote.

“I’m elated,” said Jean Howarth, who lives next door to the site. “I think the board put thought into its decision and saw what would happen to our community if the project were approved.”

A handful of supporters faithfully attended the hearings as well, offering a minority voice proclaiming a need for a local detox center.

One woman who did not want to give her name said she was disgusted with the board’s decision. “I went to school here, I grew up here, there’s a drug problem,” she said. “If they want to turn their backs on it, that’s fine.”

PREVIOUS STORIES:

• Lawrence Twp. zoning board set to vote on proposed drug detox center

• With badge set aside, Lawrence police chief challenges Sunrise Detox rehab facility

• Proposed detox center in Lawrence to get third hearing from zoning board

• Lawrence zoning boards hears detox center arguments

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In a meeting filled with passionate pleas on both sides, the Santa Barbara City Council approved an $865,000 grant to move the Project Recovery Detox Center to 1020 Placido Avenue.

The detox center, currently the only one outside of Cottage Hospital, has been housed in the same building as Casa Esperanza at 816 Cacique Street.

but the presence of so many Casa residents that still use drugs and alcohol hasn’t been good for detox center clients, and the center’s presence is starting to suffocate the space-strapped Casa.

The new building will add two beds, a quieter environment, and allow mixed gender services in the center’s 14-day recovery program run by the Council on Alcohol and Drug Abuse. but some neighbors don’t like the idea of a detox facility going up on their street and supporters and protestors of the facility turned out in force during public comment.

“I believe having a place to detox with professional guidance and understanding helped me with one of the best decisions I have made in my life,” said Victoria Mather, a previous participant of the Recovery Project.

Rebecca Long, whose property shares a backyard fence with proposed center had concerns about smokers and addicts being a short climb away from the yard where her nine-month-old daughter plays.

 “I don’t think it’s fair for CADA or the Housing Authority to say this is going to be any kind of improvement on the neighborhood, it’s not. If you live behind it, it’s not. If you lived around it, it’s not,” Long said.

The council expressed sympathy for the neighbors’ viewpoint, but ultimately sided with CADA staff.

“when the boat is leaking and you have a way to plug the hole, you go forward and do it,” Council member Bendy White said.

White suggested some of the neighbors’ concerns about privacy and fence height could be addressed when center gets its standards permit—the permit that ensures the facility meets all the qualifications for a detox center.

Dale Francisco also supported the center, believing that the neighbors’ fears would be put to rest once they saw the facility.

“I think many of the concerns the neighbors have about this facility would probably be allayed if they had been around the functioning detox facility,” Francisco said. “It would be quiet and well run.”

Even Council member Frank Hotchkiss, who had earlier opposed the Wilbridge project near Peabody School, supported the center. after questioning some CADA staff, Hotchkiss said that there is some misconception about the types of people who would be staying at the center, pointing out the center wouldn’t be used exclusively by homeless people.

“I think you’ll find a very controlled, conscientious neighbor,” Hotchkiss said.

Mayor Helene Schneider believed that the presence of the detox center could even be a good thing for the neighborhood given the controlled schedule detox patients must abide by.

“in fact, if they could be a good neighbor and working with the neighborhood, I think it’s going to create a safer overall environment in the area,” Schneider said.

Council member Michael self cast the only dissenting vote. while self applauded CADA’s work and acknowledged the need for a detox program, she believed that a better site for the center could be found.

 “with all the vacant properties in economic distress, it seems like something in another location would be more suitable for this.”

The measure passed 5-1 with self voting no and Council member Randy Rowse recusing  himself as his wife is an active member of CADA. 

How ironic. Randy Rowse a tavern owner makes his living off of selling alcohol. Alcohol is known to cause dependency and medical problems and drivers under its influence are responsible for the deaths of others. we as a community are asked to pony up almost a million for a detox center to deal with the ravages of alcohol. then there’s cannabis….which has never killed anyone. but Randy calls that evil and wants all dispensaries shut down. CADA connection anyone? A bit of hypocrisy there? Follow the money trail.

I live 5 houses away, and I saw that the house was listed for $975,000…and was not selling. I didnt read the report, but I believe that the only sale that would happen is something like this; noone would spend 3/4 million to live on that alleylike street. The seller basically won the lottery on this sale. This is a safe neighborhood already. but because its so dark, creepy lurking drunks would change it all. I believe they legally dont have to get public input at all. I demand that they have a 6 month review process, and have the option to close, if it doesnt work. There will always be nimbys, we just need accountability, not promise and reassurance. If it works, then keep it. at least there is a liquor license for a property 150ft from there, in case they want a quick beer.

City owns most of the housing around this facility anyway. They already bought the votes of the neighbors. Why insult us these are open and fair hearings showing neighborhood support. There are more Housing Authority units in this part of town than almost any other place. Watch out other neighborhoods once the city moves in, you are also doomed. no more private property interests against the Big City Housing Machine which buys every Democratic vote they can with your very own tax dollars.

City owns most of the housing around here. who is going to complain? This is what happens when you become a company town. SEVENTEEN PERCENT of Santa Barbara housing units are government owned, regulated and/or subsidized. People want even more taken on and become dependent upon taxpayer support. This is just one city subsidized and regulated housing unit taken off the private market and increases the percentage of government owned housing even more. you are doing this to yourselves, Santa Barbara. only you can stop this insatiable government housing monster devouring the heart and soul of this city until nothing but government projects remain.

A city-funded drunk tank should not look any better than Arizona’s correctional tent city. Drinking yourself to death is a choice and a choice that carries consequences. no one gets better without making better choices for themselves. The AA door is open 24/7. The city just needs to hand public drunks a list of AA meetings and a citation for public drunkeness. Stop treating public drunks like V.I.P’s. This is crazy. If private individuals and groups want to take them in, fine. They can do this on their own dime. but not with my public money. I want law enforcement with my public money, not enabling and excusing lawlessness.

Michael self appears to be the only true conservative on the Council. This stuff about the conservative takeover of the Council is nonsense. Hotchkiss and Francisco have been huge tax and spending disappointments.

Hotchkiss and Francisco are a thousand times better than the Bendy White betrayal. not a good idea to use Brian Barnwell as your role model, Bendy. you ran on neighborhood protections and you got votes because of this and you turn around immediately and sell out to the wacko progressive crowd. no need to have done that Bendy. but you did. Hope you can spell one-term council person.