Board of Zoning Appeals - Regular Meeting

All right. Um, it is 7 o'clock, so we will go ahead and call the October 30th meeting of the Bo board of zoning appeals to order. Um, I'll go and start by introducing the members of the board to you. Um, absent tonight is Lori Jackson, but present are Greg Zinc, James Moore, Chuck Williams, and I'm Anthony Ciphers. We're also joined by our attorney, Mr. Vissing and Ronnie from the building department. Um, on behalf of the board, I'd like to welcome everyone to the October 30th meeting of the Board of Zoning Appeals. Everyone who appears before the Board of Zoning Appeals is entitled to a legal right of due process. Therefore, everyone present who wants to [clears throat] will be given an opportunity to speak. If you have not already done so, please sign in if you wish to speak so we can make sure everyone has a chance to be heard. We ask that when you're called upon to speak that you will first state your name and address for the record. We have two public hearings before us this evening and we're going to follow the same format for each. Um one additional request there is there are a lot of people who are going to speak. We will be likely having to impose limit of five minutes per person to just to help with timeliness. um repetition, repeating the same things that may have already been said or stated, especially statement of fact, is redundant. And although everyone does get a chance to speak, if something's already been said a couple times, um if you could, just for the sake of time for everyone, please get to the parts of what you'd like to say that haven't been stated. Um the public hearing, it's held for the purpose of hearing testimony and just that. Um, it's not to be used as a forum for public debate between proponents or opponents of any matter. Um, all comments made must bear relevance to the subject matter at hand.

As I said before, um, we're going to limit things to five minutes per speaker. Um, the forum we're going to follow is first the petitioner will come up, present the facts and arguments in support of the case. The board may interject with comments and questions throughout this testimony to clear up some subject matter. After that, we'll go ahead and open public comment where members of the public will have a chance to come up and speak. Um, after the public's been heard, the petitioner will come back up for rebuttal. They will have a chance to address especially concerns or um criticisms of the petition. When we're satisfied that all testimony has been presented and that our obligation to you of due process has been fulfilled, we will close the hearing. At that time, the board will make its decision based on testimony presented, relevant legalities, and is it or is it not in the best interest of the city of Salem and Washington County. Um, at this time, I'd like to hand it over to Mr. Vissing if there's anything else you'd like to add.

Uh, yes. So, you know, again, just not to be repetitive as an example of what we're asking, but you know, frequently public comment um can get redundant on certain issues. So, you know, while again you'll have the opportunity to be heard, we may hurry you along through um what's seen as repetitive comment. It's important to note as well is this is comment public comment is directed to the board. Um it's not a question and answer session with the board and it's also not a question and answer session with the applicant uh from the members of the public. If you want to have those conversations separately, that's fine. But public comment is comment to to the board for consideration. Uh we have two different types of variances tonight. One is a developmental standards variance and the other is a use variance. They have slightly different criteria that the board will be evaluating them on. Um before we move into I believe the first docket item which is uh 202513 um which the applicant is Evan Zinzer. Um this is a developmental standards variance application. Uh just a note for those in attendance and for the board as well. Um, a developmental standards variance may be approved uh when the departure from the developmental standards of the zoning ordinance um is not contrary to the public interest and due to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of the actions of the applicant and literal enforcement of the Salem zoning ordinance would result in unnecessary undue hardship under the Indiana code uh section 36-7-4 918.5 a developmental standards may be

approved only upon a determination from the board of zoning appeals that the approval will not be injurious to the public health safety morals and general welfare of the community. The use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantially adverse manner. And lastly, the strict application of the terms of the zoning ordinance will result in practical difficulties in the use of the property. And with that, uh, we'll invite up the applicant uh for docket number 2025-13, Kevin.

Sir, if you could please come up to the podium here. [clears throat] All right. Could you please just for the record state your name and address? Yes. My name is Evan Zinser and 8997 East New Philadelphia Road, Salem, Indiana 47167. Thank you. Um, so we've got your application for the developmental standards variance before us, but if if it would be all right with you, if you could just maybe go ahead and explain in your own words what are you seeking? What's what's the issue at hand here with this property at 406 406 West Water or Northwater?

Yes. So, 406 Northwater Street. As you can see in the picture, the house is in need of major repairs. Um I I should have got some pictures inside, I guess, to show you guys as well, but um it needs to be torn down. It's not safe. It wouldn't be good for someone to live in, even if you tried to fix it, in my opinion. I've been doing this for 20 years. Um, and for my opinion, from what I've done, it should be torn down. And I'd like to build a new home that then would provide a nice home for someone in our community that isn't have a risk of fire or other issues in homes like this that everything's old and falling apart and not safe.

So [clears throat] for clarification though, the need for variance though is is it is infringing on setbacks. Yes, it currently does. If if I'm correct, the house as it stands infringes on setbacks, but reconstructing it would. Are you planning to follow essentially the same footprint as the existing house?

Yeah. So, if you look at the existing house, we would start right on the left side where that one is and then go over to the right and then where the bushes are, the house would come right to the end of the bushes pretty much. And then right to the right of that, we would put on a garage. That's the length of the house as well. The issue with this area is there isn't parking on the street, and that's a concern for a lot of people. So, that's why we would put on a garage as well that then could hold two cars. And then behind the garage, we would also put in an area, a gravel area, uh, for parking as well if someone needed an extra spot. But it would keep people off the street, cars off the street. Um, but that deep two-car garage, if you look at the one picture that shows, it says onecar garage. Um, that's a house that I did in Peak. This is a twocar garage, but it would be the same house as this one. And then it would go over 10 ft as I marked on the picture to show what the new home there would look like. But other than that, it's going to stay right in the exact same spot within everything besides putting a garage on pretty much.

Okay. Which then solves the issue of parking in that area. So roughly um in the application here it says you'll be two infringing on the side set back by two feet. Is that inclusive of the garage? Yes. Okay. Yeah. Does anyone have any questions? I think it's a great fit. I mean, something new in there and it's been a bad bad uh appearance for a long time.

So, I don't really have any questions. It fits all the setbacks that you know, utilities and all that stuff's there, everything. I'm not going to ask you to sit down. Is there anyone in the audience? Um, I'm going to go ahead and open public comment. Is there anyone in the audience who would like to make public comment for this hearing? All right. And we'll go ahead and close public comment. You can just stay up here.

Um, you know, Chuck, I think you bring up a good point. It it appears that, you know, the way this house lays, if you look at I had it printed out. [clears throat] If you look at the way it sets right now, it's already infringing upon setbacks. And if if you look at a further zoomed out shot, the three adjoining properties also by right nature of when they are constructed when when this was all

set up, things weren't weren't done like they are now. Um I think in looking at the property it does not really appear that by you know the it seems like the front setback there with the road is really the the bigger infringement. It really doesn't though appear that by moving the house back you would either gain much other than still infringing on the setback while reducing what little right the potential would I think is a good point to make there. Yeah. We put it just closer to the There's a house right there's an adjint. Yes, there's a house right back there that's right on [clears throat] the property line. Um I think it's 10 ft off the property line.

Okay. In the back. All right. Well, if there's no other question, I would go ahead and entertain a motion on this. I make a motion to approve 2025-13. I'll second that motion. Motion's been made and seconded. All in favor? I. All right. Thank you. Appreciate you, sir. Doc number 2025-13 has been approved.

Again, just one last time, I think maybe there have been some additional people come. If you would like to speak, please sign in on this signin sheet up front. If there's no one else who'd like to speak, um Gina, could I bug you to bring that up to me. So, we're going to follow the same format for the second hearing tonight um before we begin.

Yeah, I'll run through the Yes, I'll run through this. This is a request uh for a use variance. This is docket number 2025-14. Uh the name of the applicant is Lighthouse. regarding the property at 202 West Walnut Street. Um here a use variance under the Salem zoning ordinance may be approved when such a use is not contrary to the public interest and due to conditions peculiar to the property. Um it it would not result it's not the result of actions of the applicant and literal enforcement of the Salem zoning ordinance would result in unnecessary and undue hardship pursuant to Indiana code 36-7-4- 918.4 A use variance may be approved by the board only upon a determination that the approval will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community. That the use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantially adverse manner. That the need for the variance arises from some condition peculiar to the property involved. The strict application of the terms of the zoning ordinance will constitute an unnecessary hardship if applied to the property for which the variance is sought. And lastly, the approval does not interfere substantially with the city's comprehensive plan. Um so each of those five criteria will need to be um met um in the judgment of the board in order to to grant the use variance. And again with that we will open up the floor to the applicants to come up and present their application.

If you could just before you begin please state your name and address. All right. Good evening everyone. Do I need to wait?

If you don't mind please wait just a moment. So, what we're going to go ahead and do before we begin on this hearing, um, for the record, um, the applicant Life House has legal repres repres representation by

we did not retain an attorney. She just asked me to sit for the purpose of public interest in appearances there. Tom Cipher is there sitting with the applicant as my father. So for the remainder of this hearing, I am going to recuse myself. Um I will go ahead and step out of the room at this time.

Mr. Chairman, We have one matter of prior to this only about 10 days ago and we have requested some discovery from the applicant financial information about the operation and we have been denied that. As a result of that, we'd like to ask this board to delay this hearing until we can be provided with the financial information necessary to determine this facility can be operating as plan within their budget.

So, that's not something this board is obligated to to allow for. Um, discovery is not part of the process. The applicant makes their application. the public can come in and voice their concerns um regarding that application. They can if if you believe that the five criteria that I've listed off in the Indiana code are not satisfied, you can present information and testimony to support that uh conclusion that you may have. Um but discovery, this isn't a uh a court proceeding in which you're uh in litigation and discovery is permitted. Um this is a you know, an application before the board of zoning appeals. So, we wouldn't be delaying for that purpose.

We we would contend for purposes of this area. We would contend that without information for this board to know whe that's our contention that that's not a remedy available under the Indiana code. All right. So, now proceed with the applicant.

Okay. Um Okay. Okay. So, I believe my responsibility here is to share with you what life house is and then um why we need this v this use variance and how I believe it's my responsibility as well to share with you why we meet those five prongs that are required. So, I'm going to say that um our mission at Life House is to be a solution focused uh organization to address the needs that exist right here in Washington County. The problems are already here. For years, our community has seen the effect of substance misuse. And not because people want to struggle, but because recovery and stability are not always easy to find. Life House was created as a response to that need based from research, data, and statistics collected from Salem St. Vincent Hospital, Dispatch in Washington County, and Indiana.gov overdose deaths data. Um, we are a faith-based and evidence-based program. That means our approach is grounded both in compassion and in scient scientifically validated methods. Our goal is to offer a safe, structured home where individuals in recovery can continue building healthy self-directed lives that lead to positive outcomes. to explain what a level three re recovery residence is. I will share that it is a structured supervised home for people who are already in recovery from substance use. It is not for those who are actively using drugs or alcohol. Residents are carefully screened and must be sober and agree to follow very strict house rules. This level of housing provides on-site staff supervision and daily structure. Residents attend recovery meetings, maintain employment, and volunteer in our community. They [clears throat] complete chores and follow curfews. There is random drug screening and immediate consequences for rule

violations. It is important to understand that Life House is not a halfway house. It is not a detox center and it is not a homeless shelter. It is a stable, supportive environment designed for safety, accountability, and long-term healing. Sometimes recovery residents, recovery residences are misunderstood and people associate them with unsupervised group homes or temporary shelters, but those are very different things. Our program is a quiet, well-maintained, drug-free, and operated with the same standards as any other home on this street. Residents live with respect for one another and for the neighborhood around them. Our focus on primary needs is that we recognize that substance misuse is often a secondary issue, not the root cause. Many people struggle because deeper needs like safety, belonging, mental health, or purpose have gone unmet. At Life House, we help residents unpack those primary needs first. By un by addressing the underlying causes of distress, we create a space for lasting transformation. The truth is recovery residences like Life House make our community safer, not more dangerous. When people in recovery have stable housing and consistent support, they are far less likely to relapse, reaffend, or become unhoused. Programs like ours lower recidivism rates, reduce strain on emergency services, and help individuals become more productive working members of society. Every dollar invested in recovery housing saves multiple dollars in criminal justice and health care costs. But more importantly, it saves lives. The individuals who come to Life House are not strangers. They are our sons and daughters, our neighbors, and our co-workers. They have already made the hardest decision of their lives to pursue recovery. They want what we all want, safety, purpose, and a chance to live

free from addiction in a healthy and meaningful way. So, I could go on and on about the great things that Life House will provide our community, but I want to address the points for variance. Um, there are the pro the five prongs in our standard that um our attorney listed. And for example, um that need for variance arises from some condition peculiar to the property involved. I wanted to state that this current property is in a location that is accessible to resources and we need that. It's it's very important. It's imperative that our residents are able to access our local resources and that's what recovery is. It's community collaboration for overall well-being. And I can share more about why the condition peculiar to this property is um it qualifies for this need um for variance. I don't know if it's necessary to share that um will I have another opportunity to speak or is this

you will have an additional opportunity opportunity to speak on rebuttal after the public has had their opportunity to comment. So okay feel free to present. I'm going to close with this. I appreciate it. I would offer as much of your application as is. Okay. Again, is it you want the board to consider and certainly you would want the members of the public to hear. Yes. Um in considering your application. So the way that I think about it is make your case. Okay. Now for what you want. I appreciate the rebuttal. You can use that opportunity to address concerns that perhaps um folks in the audience may have and raise.

All right. So I will just say this about the points the the prongs and the standard of the variance. I have gone through them. I've gone through them with others and we meet the criteria for this variance. Um and we can provide those reasons if necessary. Lastly, I want to say that Indiana standard for recovery residents has multiple domains and domain 4 is a good neighbor policy and that policy says a well-run recovery residence is a family in a neighborhood. While new families have no requirement to engage with their new community, good neighbors take on the responsibility. Recovery residents operators are expected to function as good neighbors and pursue positive respectful outreach. This engagement is reinforced by the social model recovery program domain, community orientation. Modeling good neighbor skills develops these assets for personal recovery capital. The standards in this domain also build on many of the six architectural considerations for recovery housing defined in Whitman 1993. Location, appearance, facility, oversight and security and care and upkeep. Thank you guys so much.

All right. um in light of the chair's uh refusal this evening. I I'll kind of stand in to direct traffic a little bit through the um through the meeting. So, what we'll do now is uh the board will uh open things up for public comment if you would like to speak for or against. There was a signin sheet that was set out, you know, prior to the meeting. Um we have that up here. We'll run through that in order of folks who have signed in. Um, if you did not make it in in here in time to sign up on this list, we will have a sheet that will open um, opportunities up for any additional speakers who may want to speak, but we'll ask you to sign into the podium. And everyone, we would like you to state your name and address for the record when you approach the podium. Um, so with that, um, we will invite David Allen. Um,

may I defer my comments later in the proceeding? Sure. I'll call you back up at the end. Um, Susan, pardon me if I mispronounce your last name. Susan Sama.

I'm Susan Sammy. My business address is 200 North Water Street, Salem, Indiana. Uh, I've been there over 40 years, that address. The first thing I want to say is I'm not fighting their program at all. I definitely agree that we need recovery. So, that's not my issue at all. I met with Kelly. I felt like we were I'm business part of it and she's compassionate and I don't know that that's a bad combination but we weren't seen eye to eye on the location. I own Six Scoops. It's an ice cream shop that has thrived. We have um been open the last 10 years. It's team-based. I have hired over a hundred teenagers out of this community. We started six scoops with six teens and the teens in this community which I feel is as important as building our team foundation. So it helps prevent drug addiction. You make them make better decisions. Each team that has worked for me can run six scoops. Every bit of that aspect of it as far as they order, they do the scheduling, they do everything clean it, they train the others from the time they start usually with me at 15 and they normally stay with me until they are ready for college. They have been the most amazing part of this job and I think we are also building a strong foundation in this community that's going to help fight against drugs. Now saying that I hired we went from six to 20 this year. So that is probably the fastest growing business in Washington County and it's due to our teens in the way that their parents have brought them

up and the skills that we're teaching them. I'm not opposed to them at all. Like I I met I called David not to fight them. I'm like what do you have that we can offer them? I am against that building and that facility even if I didn't own six scoops because I want I have been in business since I was 18 years old standing on that corner. So this community means a lot to me. Our kids are youth and anybody that has recovered from drug addiction I have the utmost respect for and I would do anything I could to help them. I can't even lose 10 pounds. I can't imagine fighting a drug addiction and overcoming it. Like I have done more research since this has come up than I have ever done on drug addiction, drug recovery. So I'm not fighting Kelly at all. I support her program and I hope she's very successful. But if you look at that building and that location, I have 15 year olds over there and Kelly told me because I called David not because I needed him to represent me or to to fight this. I called him because he has a lot of property. he has a lot of access to the property. Kelly said that they after we talked about this, if you look at the property and what they're going to do with it from a business standpoint on like not from my business, but if I was trying to help them in this community, they're putting two bedrooms into this facility um with four bunk beds in one room, two bunk beds in the other. So that capacity is going to be 12 people if they take it to capacity with no outside area at all. It's on a sidewalk with an alley. So even if their group that is fighting addiction does the very best that they can, how are they going to keep all the outsiders that don't need to be there

away from that facility when it's on a public sidewalk? I even went and drove because their program is based on freedom within. Well, so I drove to look at that building to see that to see what they're doing, right? because I've also researched and done enough to know that there's a lot of issues that come which scare me because I have teenagers that work for me and it's just as important to build the program strong there so they can make better business decisions and be more prepared for their careers in the in the future and help build our community than what it is to backpedal and try to pe help the people that's tried to fight the to fight the addiction. So, Kelly and I are basically working for the same thing. We're just on different ends of it. Um, and I I think one is as important as the other. I couldn't [clears throat] to put eight people in one room and expect there not to be issues. To keep all the other addiction problems away to where my building would be secure, you're on a public sidewalk. We have, you know, you can have rosecolored glasses on and try to act like there's not going to be problems, but every business I've been in business since I was 18 has issues. I've had rental property. I've worked with section 8. I've worked with I've helped

not to interrupt you, but we're nearing five minutes. So, if you can include your comments shortly. Okay. Please.

That's my issue. I want to help find a building. We've offered them other buildings that they could stay at and expand. They're going to be here for 12 months. This is a pilot program. Then they're going to find a permanent program for their women and then they're going to plan their plans are to start phase two and launch the recovery for men's addiction and I will close my business. This directly affects not only my employees, my staff, but all the customers that has helped built Six Scoops. And it's it may sound like ice cream, but it's a lot more. We're actually of the the we've gone through like I told the kids you make more money off of selling sprinkles. They actually sold 75 pounds of sprinkles last year. That's what our teens are doing. And I don't think it's right to hurt that program to help another one. We have so much vacant in this area. There's so Let me find you a building. I'll find you a building. I'll help you find a better location. Like I that's what I'm offering. Kelly Silence.

Oh, that was me. Sorry. Um, Michael Prindle. [clears throat] Long trip up there. Yeah.

Good evening. Uh, my name is Michael Prindle. I live at 1302 South New Salem Road. Salem in Indiana. Salem, Indiana, 47167. [clears throat and cough] And uh, I'm here in support obviously of Life House. I u I'm a pastor at Agape Ministries uh, out on Lee Street uh, behind the justice center there. And I'm also an architect um, registered in the state of Indiana. And um you know I think a good a good example you know Kelly here she uh she c came out of of uh incarceration and what six years ago

on November 2nd

and uh she did that because uh one of the reasons is because our church supports an in in prison ministry and uh that is to support females and males but mostly females at this point to uh to better their lives to to have a ramp off out of out of prison to to increase and and become a a productive member of society. And so we uh couple of people at our church uh fostered that with her and she came out and she came to our church and six years later she has a passion for what happened to her. And uh that passion you show you see in her in her heart and in what she's saying. And um as an architect, we're preparing the construction documents. We're pushing forward in faith. We're preparing construction documents to renovate that building. Uh the renovations aren't significant, but they are there to um make make the building much more residential living space. And uh and I don't believe that we're putting eight people in one room. I think that's more like um a maximum of six, but we're starting as a as a smaller group. Uh and we're stopping at six, I think. Um, and then one room is going to going to be a uh for the house mother and uh that'll be the other bedroom. And these these two room these two rooms are going to receive windows uh for natural light and it's required by code but it's also required for health and that sort of thing. Another thing we're doing at the at the building is we are providing a yard. We're building a yard along that uh that alley side. It might be thin. It's about 20 foot, 15 foot I think, but we're going to fence it in. We're going to landscape it. It will be an outdoor space um for, you know, because we recognize that that's uh that's very important uh for the health of of the

occupants here. So, um I think that's all I had to say. Um, but I, you know, I'm I'm passionate and and you know, the testimony that we have here is Catholic herself and we see what she's doing and we're very supportive uh at Agape. Uh, we probably have 80 to 100 people. You know, it's probably 60 people uh every Sunday, but uh we have connections with that in the community and uh they're very supportive of this uh to go forward. So, thank you for for the time. Roy Pierce.

Good evening, gentlemen. If you don't mind, I would like to have a word of prayer if you don't mind. Father God, we thank you tonight. We thank you for this meeting, Lord God. Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Lord God, you're our heavenly father. And Lord God, we cannot do these things without you because you're our guide. You protect us and lead us and guide us and give us a wisdom that nobody else can give us, Lord God. So tonight, Lord God, I ask that your will be done, Lord God, on earth as it is in heaven. My name is Roy D. Pierce. I live at 1023 B um Cely Road, Bordon, Indiana. I run a a ministry here, Forever Change Outreach. As I can see, u the we actually started to use the voting for the Forever Change ministry and have a church in it, but it didn't work out uh with the with the people that is being served in the community. I've been in Salem a year and 18 month or 18 months. And I have had Salem police call me. I had had state troopers call me because there's people that need this program that I have to take them to New Albany or I got to take them to Jeffersonville and but they live here in Salem. So the area that it is in is a lot is in a key area for the people that we minister to in Salem, Indiana. Um we also give them resources. We actually give point point them to resources. We do not enable them and we encourage them whatever whatever township they're in that they when they get back on their feet, they need to address their trustee and let them know what their help has done for them to encourage them to be part of society and not an eyesore that people want to kick to the curb. So as

as uh one it says that we are broken in spirit individuals who are deeply hurt, defeated, emotionally shattered by life's difficulties often characterized by feeling inner emptiness, vulnerability, and a need for healing. That was me. I did before I gave my heart and life to Jesus Christ, I was in that same boat. I wasn't a drug or an alcoholic or anything like that, but I still needed a direction. And that's what these people need. They need a direction in life in order for them to be a better in the society that Kelly and the lighthouse is trying to point them to. People want to say, well, why can't they get a job? Why can't they do this? Why can't they do this? When you're on an addiction, alcohol and that will take precedence over a rational thinking. For us to work with them, we have to have them a mindset, a structure because we feed Jeffersonville and Louisville as well. If they're on constantly on drugs and they have no key figure or key pointing, a lot of them, they don't know any difference. But lots of people say, "Why don't they get a job?" they can't because a lot of times when you're affected by drugs, trauma, abuse, when they're young, it changes your lifestyle. I know one I, you know, 13-year-old was raped and beaten. These things here's trauma that people grow up with that we don't understand. We haven't walked in their shoes. So, as we point to Kelly in the lighthouse, we're trying to help society, help Salem, Indiana, Washington County, turn people that the society says they're worthless. They're not any good. They ought to be somewhere else. This is what we're trying to do is turn them back into society with the better

open their eyes, awareness to what's going on. And um all I can say is um it's been a blessing to serve with Kelly. Um actually there's a bunch of ministries that actually First Christian, different things that going on Southern Hills that we're all coming together try to help out on this. So I appreciate your time, sir. God bless. Chloe Day.

Yeah. and you're up next as well. So, [clears throat]

hi everyone. I'm Chloe Day of 3096 Jones Court. I wanted to come up as a teen today so we could get that point of view. I'm currently a junior in high school at Salem and I wanted to come up and speak in behalf of the life house. As a young girl, I of course see a lot of judgment in high school and I often many times see people being inconsiderate of others. I think it is only a blessing to see these women willing to turn their lives around. Addiction doesn't make anyone less human. It doesn't make them unworthy. It means they have been fighting battles most of us can't see. Everyone, no matter what, deserves a chance to grow and start over. When we choose love over fear and understanding over anger, we make our town stronger and the world a better place. We have to remember kindness costs nothing. And sometimes just feeling welcomed can be the thing that changes a person's life. As a 16-year-old girl, seeing what Kirstson and Kelly have done has inspired me, and we are blessed to have them in our community, willing to be the change. Let's be the community that stands up and lifts people up, not the community that pushes them away. Thank you for listening and God bless. I did not tell her to write that. I'm Telicia Day at 3096 Jones Court. I'm so proud of her and I have listened to Kristen building this for several several weeks and I think it's a great thing. These women, it's starting off with three women, not six or eight, three women. They do not have mental abuse, no schizophrenia, no bipolar. They are regularly drug tested. Um it's just women trying to better themselves. I know they're doing a lot with the church. They've got the architect here. They're going to better the building and that's what we need in Salem. I mean, it's not going to be abandoned and I think we just need to have more grace for people and not be so judgmental when

we don't know truly what it's going to be. So, thank you for listening. Angie Wilson. Hi, I'm Angie Wilson. My business is 107 South Main Street. Um, I am not here because I want to be, but because I was asked to be. Um, I was married to an alcoholic for 25 years and my sister's an alcoholic, so I know the struggles. Um, I'm also president of Washington County Helping Hands. And so when these guys got together and decided to do this, I was probably the first in their list of the people that they reached out to. So I think what they're doing is a very good thing. I know their heart's in the right place and I know there is a need. On the business standpoint, my office is directly across from the women's shelter. So, I know that is a very structured environment um guarded. Someone's on site 24/7, but I've had my office there since 2014. Any problems that I've seen coming from the women's shelter has not been from the people within. It's the family members, the exes, the whatever that kind of stalk or, you know, try to catch him coming in and out. Um, and from a business owner standpoint, it makes me feel very uncomfortable if I've got some dude lurking in the, you know, entryways of other businesses to

kind of watch and see what's going on. Um, you know, different family members. Um, you know, that they will try to persuade them. um you know addiction um there there's a misery there there's a codependency there and so my suggestion and I don't know what their pattern is I've not read any of their stuff but if you do pass this there there needs to be some strict guidelines and and things that they need to follow Dustin Williams. [clears throat]

Hi, I'm Dustin Williams. Uh 1307 Westview Drive in Bordon, Indiana. Uh Susan Sammy is my mother. Um she she's like she said earlier, she uh has owned that property and that business for 40 years on that corner. I know she's employed many many many teenagers and the addiction is not the issue at all. And I feel like when she's talking about the business part of it, we feel like maybe Lighthouse is being a little shortsighted on their possibilities of where they could grow. All right, with they're going to have a two-bedroom with six people in there. That's not a not saying six people isn't important at all, but they could grow to so much more if they had a different space. All right, and so um with uh the teenagers there, my mother doesn't feel safe with those teenagers. the girl, you know, mostly mostly young girls. All right. And um so I think that if they could find another space and like she said, they're more than willing to help find a larger space with more capabilities of growing. And I think that's the angle that they were trying to express. Believe it's Tony uh Hosfetler. My name is Tony Hosta. I live in 09 Reefs Lane in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Um, I'm obviously not a constituent or concerned member. I'm just here to support my friend Kelly in her endeavor. Um, I've looked at her business plan. I've worked in recovery for several years now. um even serving some folks that came from Washington County in the Salem area and happen to go sometimes all the way across the river for services. Um what she's put in place is a very structured living home. It's not a flop house. It's not your traditional halfway house. Um she's going to be teaching these young ladies life skills that they may not have had before. How

to fix a meal, how to care for their family, how to just survive in everyday society. because some of us take for granted that some people aren't taught those things. I'm here to speak out in high support of this. And location, as far as that goes, it's a perfect location because it's the building's already there and they're within walking distance of mental health services if they need to get a to probation or parole or any of that court hearings. So, I'm I ask that you vote to pass this and let her uh be progressive in the Washington County substance use. Thank you. Jason Gilstraat. Oh, good evening. Jason Gilstrap. Business address is uh 108 North Water Street, which is the building directly to the east of the proposed Life House building. It's a rental. It's a a threeunit apartment complex I've owned for about 10 years. Um, we have family living in it. Um, and like Susan and many others have said, our issue is not with recovery or what they're trying to do. It's the location is just horrible. There's no outside anything there. It's all on the city street. I know one gentleman said uh about putting fenced in areas, so they can't be outside. That's in an alley. I mean, so you're going to have a fenced in area in an alley that's gravel. It's our It's just the location is just awful. And it's also to my knowledge that building's in a flood plane. I don't know if you guys knew that or not, but if if that's why I was told I don't know, but parts of it is I know it's flooded multiple times because I've owned a building right next to it for about 10 years. Um, and the other thing was I'm assuming when you I've been through the variance

um process twice and you have to as a person proposing variance, you have to send out certified letters to all the neighboring people, which I'm sure you all know, but pretty much everybody I see here that's around it is opposed to it. So, I'm also opposed to for those reasons. Thank you. Lori Gilstrap.

My name is Lori Gilstrap and I'm Jason Gilstrap's wife um concerning the property at 108 Northwater Street. Um which is adjacent to the property that they're trying to get the use variance on. Um just a couple of things I wanted to add. Um, I think everybody in this room can agree that drug and addiction issue is everywhere. I've buried two family members from addiction. I know our um our issue is the location of this. Since we've owned the building, we've had police there twice due to homeless issues. Um once when there was a camper sitting behind this building in this same alley um that was the city allowed them to stay there for a while and I understood they were a homeless issue and or a homeless couple that was trying to stay there. The problem was not just with them staying there but it turned out to the point where a mattress was thrown outside. other homeless people were sleeping in it and at one point the mattress was caught on fire. Um, which put at risk and jeopardized everybody's buildings at that point. Um, that was something that we contended with for two years at least, year and a half, two years until that situation finally resolved and the camper was moved out. We've also had issues. I've had police called twice because there was people that were sleeping in between the buildings. the homeless would come and you I can barely squeeze in there, but I guess if I was cold, I guess I could make it. But, you know, there's been issues where we've had people that were renting our building saying there's people talking outside and we've had to have the police down there twice. So, to say that there's outside influences that are not going to affect this, I I can't believe anybody could possibly say that

it will never happen. Um the location for that is, you know, like Susan said, there are teenagers, especially during the spring and summer, walking through there. Um and yes, to my knowledge, like my husband brought up, that building has flooded twice since the 2015. We've had water in our basement, and that's why everything in the basement of that building since he's had it and renovated it has all now been moved to upper level because that basement has flooded twice. Well, if that basement could flood, then that was gonna flood. Um, so for those reasons, you know, we just feel like this location, there is nothing there for those people outside. You know, if they wanted to go outside, they could very well be walking into negative influences that the whole community wishes it was not there. We all wish it wasn't there, but it is. And um seemed like there was another point I wanted to bring up. Um oh services when when somebody somebody had made the remark that it's close to services. I I don't understand what services it's close to. It's not close to probation. It's not it's we don't have good services here if something does happen. I've lived with addiction in my family and mental health issues go along with addiction issues. I've dealt with it. I've lived it. I've been up in the middle of the night and I've buried family members from it. So, in that respect, it kind of concerns me of why here when we don't have a behavioral med medicine unit. I mean, we've got police, but do the police want the live? I mean to me it's like if we start having issues in that neighborhood from this and it could not may not be them but it could be the outside influences to that is the city willing to take the liability and take that on and I just

don't think the city of Salem has that. Thank you

Melody McKini. Hi, my name is Melody McKenna and um I live at 586 North Hound Street, Poli. Um I just wanted to kind of give um an idea of sober living. Um I grew up here my whole life. Um went to school here, graduated from here. Um and um I have four years clean now. Um I went through a uh faith-based um sober living um in Poli, Indiana. Um I had to go there because there was no help um here. Um but coming from there, coming from one of those um it has it provided structure for me, stability. Um, it taught me how to follow rules. Um, it also, you know, I I got a relationship with God. Um, and as far as security and all that, I know with the sober living where I lived at over there, we had like cameras outside. So, we were, you know, constantly um, watching what was going on there along with the house mom that runs the program um, who is there around the clock. Um, so you know, I probably I probably wouldn't have had to move away from here if there would have been some type of help here for me. And um, I think um, this is a good thing for this place. Tom Suckers

Kelly asked me I'm Tom Ciphers at 136 East Eastern Hills Boulevard in Salem. Um, this is the the layout, the designed layout that Kelly has to submit to show what the the bedrooms are, if the board would accept it for me. So, it's a maximum of eight occupants. But, um, I wanted to come speak because of homelessness. You know, I never thought that there would be a day that Salem would see a homeless problem. I'd heard rumors of it before I actually saw it. And now it really is a problem. And what we know is people who are homeless usually are homeless for a reason. It's not because they lack a home. Um giving them a home just to me is is remodeling a house that has a fire burning in the basement. You got to address the underlying problem. The underlying problem with almost all homelessness is some mental health issue, often addiction. We also know, it's no secret, that anymore, most incarcerations have some sort of drug or alcohol relationship. Whether it's a crime involving drugs or alcohol, or it is a crime committed to support or the result of drug and alcohol, that's an issue that contributes to the explosion that we've seen in incarceration in recent years. We also know, it's no secret that when people are released from incarceration, by that point they've often burned all bridges and they've got nowhere to go. And we have an incredibly high recidivism rate. It's because they've got no resources and ultimately the only way to make money, the only way to support yourself because they're convicted felon or whatever is they return to the life that they came from. We now have homelessness. And all the problems that I heard talked about are are true. This is a very structured, well

ststructured, faith-based program that the people will be required initially to go through classes ultimately structured classes in the facility. Ultimately, they're required to get a job. They have to go to work during the day. Then they have to come back and attend classes, faith-based classes. They're required to do uh to go to church. I forget all the programming that's done, but the busyiness that they that's thrust upon them is incredible. There's not a whole lot of free time. This isn't a place where people go camp out and and act as vagrants. There's not going to be coming and going um at will, okay? And then at night they're sleeping. I appreciate Six Scoops and I appreciate Susan Sammy because of all the things she's done in this community and I understand her opposition to this. I get it. I think a lot of this though is based on fear. Fear of the unknown. A block off the courthouse, we have a women's shelter that's already been brought up. We have a h most hospital emergency rooms have drug and alcohol addictions running issues running in and out their back door all the time. And we have one of those backed right up to a housing addition. Martin Heights. This this women's shelter up until 1986 was our jail a block off the square. The location we're talking about now was a house of worship. This is a ministry. To me, this doesn't even deviate really other than it's going to be used on a daily basis rather than a Sunday basis. But this strikes me nothing more than a continuation of a ministry under a different name. Um because everything about this is faith-based and

largely rec recovery faith-based recovery. So I'm in support of the program. I understand that the concerns of the people that are opposed to it, but I think this is a step towards trying to prevent that because we have homeless people have walked into my soccer practices. I I coach high school girls and when you show up at practice and there's someone high on drugs sitting there smoking and you're trying to conduct practice and there's girls putting their cleats on, that's a problem. We're finally looking to get something to address that problem and that and that matters. So I think there's a maximum of eight people. I think there's a lot of misconceptions about what this is and misunderstandings about how structured it will be so that people aren't walking around on the street. Thank you. Kirsten Quick.

Hello, I'm Kirsten Quick at 808 Bristol Street in Salem, Indiana. And I um own a business inside the Sage Room on Water Street. It's a new salon that's just opened up in between the two barber shops. I have been um an owner of my own hair business now for 10 years and I've been a hair stylist for 15. Um I have worked as a single mother and I had a mother that overdosed nine years ago. I have two si two sisters who are in recovery. Well, one sister, sorry, and then a brother-in-law. I have a brother in recovery. I have multiple cousins in recovery. and none of them have been able to recover without the help of a recovery home. I am not in recovery. Somehow I made it out alive without, you know, falling into the addiction. But I honestly think becoming a mom at 19 saved me and moving away from Salem saved me. I just moved back to Salem after 15 years of being in Jefferson County. And while I was there, I served on the board of Ruth Haven for three years, which is the recovery home for women in Jefferson County. So, I know very well what the ins and outs of a recovery home looks like. I'm very much a part of this with Kelly. I've been on it since day one. I mean, first time we talked about it was in January. We've searched for buildings and um we just this was the one that we thought was good because of the location. Um, I have a 15-year-old daughter who has um actually worked with Erica Worly one time out at Delaney for free for Susan. Um, but with that being said, I have no concerns about my my daughter or her friends being at my salon on Water Street or being in any type of danger. My children were around my my brothers and sisters with certain

boundaries while they were in addiction. Um, and I also want to say that if you want to talk about mental health, I had my own mental health issues. Even though I'm a successful businesswoman, single mother, never been married, um, and I've taken very well care of my children, I had to overcome my own grief. I had to do my own counseling. I've been in and out of counseling for years. And I think that it is fear-based what all these negative comments um that are going against Life House. I think it is rooted in fear in the unknown. And I think that um going back to Ruth Haven, it's very structured. There's 247 surveillance. There's a 24 hours a day like um I think it was Melody said, a living mom who lives in the house at all times. Um and there's sign in and sign out sheets. They cannot roam freely. Um and they there is repercussions to that either they I mean they get in trouble. Um, a lot of these women will come straight out of jail, so they might still have an ankle monitor on. A lot of them do and will. Um, but they need a place that the location of this place. Now, I've spoken to some residents and another salon across the street from Six Scoops, and they do not care. They said they they don't care that it goes in there. Um, and also another I don't want to say her name, but I have Facebook messages from her saying that the only her only concern was the drug deals that are currently going on on the streets. Like her her daughters walk outside right now and say, "Oh, smell the devil's lettuce or whatever she called it." So, there's all already stuff happening. And if anything, having that vacant property, having us there is going to deter that. I mean, I just don't think it's gonna bring anything negative like the teenagers. I don't I think that if Susan

wants to be a part of it, she could employ our women and help women recover by giving them a job. Um, so maybe she could, you know, turn the dials here. I'm not saying that teenage girls aren't important, but women in recovery are mothers, sisters, daughters, granddaughters. You know, they have children. Most of them will. And um yeah, so I mean that's just I don't think that there's there's any need to not approve this based on any of the things you've heard tonight. Um I just don't think that that's fair. So thank you. That's it.

Uh that's all of the No, actually Mr. Um, we're we're towards the end of the list. Before I open it up for anyone else that may want to speak that's not already signed in, would you like to offer your public comment? Yes, please. Yes. I mean, we we do stream and so the microphones it's Yeah. I don't know if chairs. Yeah. Or honestly, if you'd like. Uh would you mind or would you be able to sit up here just so we can get you on the microphone?

Microphone down. here. The uh members of the board, thank you very much for this opportunity to appear before you. Members of the audience, uh couple things I reminded of Mr. Vessing's heritage in southern Indiana and it's a it's a great a great name on the river. U in about 196768 uh the city of Salem decided to engage on a on a process of zoning. Uh they've not done that. I happened to be in of adult age at that point in time. Was able to remember that one of the things they did in creating zoning is they identified an area of the town of Salem that they felt they felt especially responsible for. And that includes this this uh this general business designation that they have which lists as you know if you've I know you've read that which lists all of the various types of properties can be there and that that area includes Susan Sammon's investment in her in the home and her beauty shop and the six scoops. One thing I don't want to do during my few minutes here with you is to talk any more about the quality of the program or programs that are available in the community or should be available in the community. I think it's wonderful that we're able to do something for those people. It's been so many years coming

and uh it's just everyone who spoke in favor of the programs I I absolutely uh chair that that's that's a wonderful thing. On the other hand, when I turn on the TV at night and I see the drug boats with five motors on running drugs from Venezuela to to Miami or wherever, I think we're not doing a very good job. there's something wrong. And the thing that not the thing that's not been spoken to you about this and is I think absolutely required by this board is the money. You've got to follow the money here. These things don't come for free. And what I and I think the way to point this out is for me to look at that Tom say Tom you want Susan Sama to pay the bill for the depreciation in our property because we're running people in and out of there all the hours of the day and night. And there are one of the things about these programs is they're based on failure. They're not based on success. The need the need for the participation program is based on failure. And that's it causes people to fe have undesirable feelings about about the area. Susan is going to lose here. She's she's g if this if this passes as it is now, she's going to lose a lot of money and the value of her and her really her lifelong savings and in that property that she has there. So that's what I think we've missed we've missed here and what I think this is really about. I do I do not believe that the standards of the of the board that are set out in the in the ordinances for zoning appeals have been met here tonight in any way. They they fail completely. Uh there's been no nothing to show at all that there are not other properties that are that are properly zoned that can be used for this purpose.

We know there are many there are many many people in the community uh Vernon Hacker, Ken Temple, myself there are a lot of the gentlemen who approached you for the variance earlier uh people who own multiple investment properties who would be more than happy to lease, sell, rent these properties to to an agency that's properly funded. I had asked for some information from the agency, from Kelly about where the money was coming from and how much there would be and was there enough to run this facility because the drawing she gave me shows eight beds uh in one one bedroom. Okay. One one room, four bunk beds is what that appears to show. Well, I was unable to receive any any assurance at all that the program could be successful with the funding that it has. Without you knowing that, I don't know how you could possibly make a decision about whether or not there's would be harm to other people who own property like myself in the neighborhood. Uh, I do want to before I close on on this matter, I do want to share you with one one observation which I think kind of puts us where we need to be is one of the buildings I own opens up on Wallet Street half a block from this this property. I mean, it's and essentially next door to the parking lot. Uh, one day I was walking uh, back from lunch and uh, one of the one of the properties had been uh, occupied and been moved out. We had a change in tenants. So I went in and looked around and walked in the back door and looked around and everything looked good. I turned around and there was a body laying on the floor of this apartment. I thought, "Oh Lord, please don't have taken this man's life." And I walked up to him and I approached him and I was

able to he he moved a little bit. I thought, "Oh, wow." You know, he he actually moved. So I worked with him and I got him conscious and got him up in a seating position. finally got him on his feet, took him down to Arby's, bought him a hamburger and a Coke, you know, and and and learned a little bit about him and and his life was like these folks have said, it's it's driven by the need for for these programs, but they don't need to be on the back of one person. We're we're a good enough economy and that we can we can approach our not only our charitable organizations but our taxpaying or our taxing organizations to get these people enough money to run their program in a way that does not harm other people financially. And that's all that's all miss that's all Susan's about. Uh we she she wants these programs. I want these programs. I've sometimes I think I run my own programs, but the uh that's what we've done and I thank you for listening to me and uh and the gentleman did survive and and uh we kind of got it going in the right right direction. So there are some successes along the way. Thank you very much. Any questions that you have of me? Thank you. So, we've reached the end of the list of folks who have signed in. Um, if there's anyone else that has public comment again, we'd ask for it not to be repetitive of things that have been said previously in the interest of time. Um, but you can approach the podium one time. Please sign in. Say your name and address for the record.

And on the sign in sheet, please include both your name in. Okay. At the same time. Yeah.

Marvin Overre is my name. I'm pastor of Free Gospel Fellowship in Pagan. I wanted to uh step up here. I was reluctant to put my name on the list because of where our church is at in Pin, but I'm realizing that Pin is in Washington County and I live in Bordon down 104 Stark Drive in Bordon. But I wanted to step here tonight and say that we have Sister Sue and also Kelly come down to the church and present this to our church. And we're having a vote on uh the 9th of this month, which is that week from this coming Sunday. And that vote is to give 5% of our total income to this ministry. Now, whether it's on Water Street or wherever it's at, our church is committed to Life House. And I was I just want to take a minute or two just to say that and let you know. And from my point of view, I'm one of those people. I was homeless. I was 10 cents. Max when he used to have a phone call for a dime. I was one dime away from not being able to come home from Phoenix, Arizona on the streets. But one man had compassion for me, gave me a dime to make a call. And it changed my whole life. And I wanted y'all to hear that tonight because it it's not the massive amount of money. Our church is not big, but we committed this and we're going to put it before our church, our church board on the 9th. and we're committed to this. So, I want you to hear that tonight. Thank you. Good evening. My name is Cynthia Bowsman and I live at 906 North High Street,

Salem, Indiana. And um I am the founder and director of the Washington County Waring Station here in uh Salem. And I started that ministry in 2019. And we are still currently going and actually growing and um stronger than ever. This our ministry that we have. Um, I am very very aware of the un our unsheltered individuals in Washington County and it is growing and growing since 2019. We've seen such an increase. Um, my husband and I have helped them. Um, we also get phone calls as like Dave Pierce has said to take individuals that are needing um, help and assistance to other counties because we don't have those kind of services here like the sober living house that Life House is going to be. Um, we have seen in the warming station uh, we have individuals come in when it's 35 or below. We do a meal for them every time they're in there. uh every Monday night, even year round, we have a meal for our unsheltered individuals in Washington County. We have never had any issues or problems. Um we see all walks of life. We see veterans. We see um single mothers with children. We have children that come in there. Uh we see adults with addiction, struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Um, we see a little bit of of everybody that come into the warming station. And the one thing that I've strived for is to make it a family type atmosphere. Um, because there's um there's a lot of stigma that goes along with um homelessness and a lot of it is there's so much more to these

individuals than what the stigma, you know, tells people. Um we have teenagers that volunteer and you know they're part of our our uh ministry there. There's never been any issues with our teenagers and as a matter of fact I would advise parents to get teenagers involved in this sort of thing. Um and just as well as like for the sober living house. Uh we have Sunday schools that bring their Sunday [clears throat] school children in to volunteer and and these are the same individuals, you know, that are some of them that would be going to get help that would be like they said, they would be have to be sober for so many days anyways. It's not like they're an active addiction when they're placed in this sober living facility. Um so just lost my train of thought there. [laughter] Um, so it's so it's I mean it seems to be a pretty safe a safe situation since it is going to be uh where they have to be clean for so many days. Um I know that I've seen and we've seen at the warming station individuals that like I said I've been doing this since 2019 is when I started the warming station. Um, and we've seen individuals who have had some mental health issues and addiction issues who have gotten clean. You know, we've been there to celebrate their milestones, their 30-day chips, their 60-day chips. Um, you know, we're very proud of these individuals. We want to see them getting back into the community to where they can, you know, one day get a job again and be a a, you know, a good member to society. Um, today I got a text from some of our individuals who have been clean now for 60 days and just so proud of them and they wanted us, the people that run and volunteer at the warming station to come and see them

this Sunday because they're getting baptized at a local church here in Salem. And I just see, you know, there's just so much out there for these individuals. And I can just see where um this this next this step here, the life house, it's it could it's going to be wonderful. It's going to be a wonderful thing for these individuals to be able to get them back out into, you know, giving back themselves. Um so that's just basically what I wanted to say. And as far as the concern with the teenagers, which which is what I've heard, um get these teenagers involved with helping out with um because this is real life. you know, you can't keep people sheltered. Um, you know, there's there's um let them see see for themselves, you know, that this, you know, I would invite them down to the warming station to see what we deal with down there. And the biggest conflict we've ever had down there was some, you know, we didn't have enough Debbie snack cakes to hand out. So, you know, that's that was it. There wasn't no big drug bust or drug deals or anything like that. So, you know, that's that's um I can just say, like I said, my husband and I have done this since 2019, since 2025. So, I have a pretty good little bit of uh block of time there to to judge what I'm saying off of. So, um I'm in support of Life House and I think they're going to do a great thing and I hope that the community will open up and give them this opportunity. Thank you so much for your time. Hello, my name is Jason Bontriger. I live at 1206 Old State Road 60 here in Salem. Um, I'm the president of Legacy Life Church, owns a facility at 202 West Walnut Street. Um, and I just wanted to

clarify a few things about the facility. Um it was purchased and became a church in 1994 um which it was run by 501c3 and um we've had capacity as many people as 175 people um in a in a meetings in that facility. It's a very large facility. I think it's the building is 7,000 square foot total. Um to say that is to say that there is um this is a very small ministry compared to what it has been. Um up until 3 years ago we used it as a church and at which time we discontinued using it as a church facility. But um to me it would be a continuation of a 501c3 which I think would be a wonderful benefit to the community and the ministry. We have done many things. Um, one of the things that had had been mentioned was um some of the homeless that had been had issues with around the facility. We ran a uh soup kitchen um which brought in homeless um for several years there um feeding needy families in the community and we fed many many many during that time span. Um and when you help people in the community, it will draw in people that maybe are not what are desirable maybe in a community. Um, but I cannot imagine a better place for this to happen than in a facility that was already zoned for a ministry, a 501c3 ministry, um, than that one. I don't think that anybody would want it in their residential community. And so to me being in a more less I know it has some residents around it. I still feel like as a zoned I believe it is commercial um it would still be a benefit to be in that location better than in somebody's um subdivision. Um and so with that said I just want to um speak from behalf of you know that that

speak on behalf of that facility and what it's used for. It has been close to flooding many times. We only had one time, the flood, the 200-year flood. They said that it um several years back. Um but it only flooded one time and uh that we ever had it in the building. Um and I believe that's been remedied since then. So um anyway, I just wanted to give that information. Appreciate it. Thank you.

I am Brandt Parish. Um, I actually am the property manager for David Allen and I we actually have the priv privilege of renting to Kelly Sevens and she is an awesome tenant and I believe that she has the best intentions at heart. But one thing that I've heard that is alarming is the issue of flooding and that's one thing if this property does have those issues which we do manage properties that have flooding problems. What do you do? Uh the same thing that I was on TV with if some of you have saw me when uh we had 209 West Walnut flood. I had to get the tenants out. They had to leave. It was unsafe to be there. So my only concern and I I fully support the mission, fully support her, is that if this property does flood and you have people living in there constantly, you're going to have problems with what to do with the people staying there. Um you're going to have to get them out. They're going to have to have find somewhere else to go. And we did just recently have another flooding event. Um although it wasn't as bad as what we had prior. Um those issues if it is in the flood plane present a problem that may require selecting a different space. Now there is a lot of fear here about what those changes but the reality is if the building floods that is a problem that needs to be addressed and a new space may need to be selected. Thank you. Hi, my name is Adalie Hobson. I live at 1071 East Pearly Road. And being the child of an addict has always been hard and it's always come with its own obstacles. It was always something that you think it's an ongoing cycle and it's never going to end. But when she went to

recovery, I thought it I didn't trust it was going to work, but it did. And I think every child that has a mother or a father that is an addict deserves the chance to have their mother or father back. And this house will give opportunities for people in Salem to go and get clean for their children. and become the parent that they want to be even though it's hard. That's all I want to say. Thank you. [clears throat] Hey, I did. My name's Rhonda Gerald. Uh, I have a business at uh, 14 Public Square here in Salem and I did not intend to speak, so I may ramble about a little bit, but Greg Zinc's probably familiar with my ability to do so. So, um, I just want to, um, say a couple of things about addiction. I I've done just Yeah. Okay. All right. Um, relapse rates are anywhere from 45 to 75%. Um when people are in recovery and I feel that one of the very most important parts of their success or the ability to have a successful recovery that is long lasting. Well, there there's several factors, but one of those factors is their facility and their care and their location. Meaning the facility needs to have certain aspects to it that make it a

comfortable place to be. So for example, there needs to be space for a for a uh meeting room or a family visit room where they can get away from everybody and visit with their loved ones. There needs to be outdoor space where people can go outside and actually, you know, kind of get away from each other and have a little, you know, touch some grass as they say. Um, and then the people who are in charge of the facility is a very dicey dicey situation to try to care for people in recovery. So, there has to be a lot of experience that goes along with that. and there have to be credentials and it can't just be about the good heart and the and the good intentions and that type of thing. So I I want to challenge I and again I dare say I'm going to turn around and look at everybody. Not a single person in this room is against people in recovery or having a facility where people can be in recovery. Not a single person in this room. Okay. I challenge you though before it is too late to please look at all your options on a facility because the environment is extremely important. It's extremely important to these people that are going into this um recovery scenario and they need space. uh they don't need to be um you know feeling like they're crammed in with other people. And I know you've already put a lot of work into looking at this facility, but I just challenge you to open open your mind to thinking about I don't want you to be set up to

fail, okay? At all. I don't want you to be set up for failure. I don't want you to be set up for lack of growth because I think it's too important. So, I feel like I mean I don't have a dog in this fight, okay? But I feel like it's very important to look at all of your options on the right facility because I don't want you to get into something and it's growing and it's doing well, but then you don't have the resources to support the people that need your help. So, I just challenge you to look and and if there's a better place available that is for the same money, but it has more space. It has all the ability to have the things the the right parts of the facility that you need. I just challenge you to just really go down that road before you make a final decision that this is the place. The flooding is is a factor. um the the street is a bit dicey. It's a it's a bit of a factor. So again, I don't think anybody wants to fight this facility. I think we all are 100% behind this, but I want it to be well planned and well thought out and not set up for failure. And so that means make sure it's the right facility. Thank you. My name is Brandon Terrell. Live at 5127 South Martensburg Road Sale. Change is hard. When Walmart was coming in, everybody was scared of what it was going to do to everything else in this city.

The city has not changed much. It's grown. That's a good thing. They put money back into the community. They give back to the community. That's what this is going to do. I worked at the city police department for 10 years. I had people come in weekly looking for a place to stay after they got out of jail, trying to do the right thing, trying to stay sober. We had no where to go with them. We had nothing to do with them. We would point them to go to Jeffersonville or New Albany or Seymour, someplace that could help them. This is something that can help them. I know it's small at this point, but saving one life means a lot. I know everybody here has dealt with addiction in their family. Everybody's dealt with it. It don't it don't discriminate. I know she's got concerns. She's concerned about the young kids that she has working for her. That is a concern. But I would venture to guess that whether we know it or not. There is a drug addict that walks by those kids every day. There is a drug addict that walks into that store every day. There is a drug addict that's in Walmart shopping with them. And there's worse things than drug addicts that could be standing there walking by them. So that is something that's going to happen anywhere you are. Unfortunately, it's a part of life. But this is trying to help that. If it can take one drug addict and turn it into two that's no longer a drug addict, that's what means something. Anybody that can get the help that they need and is willing to put in the work, Kelly's going to be willing to help them. Kelly has devoted her life to this.

Kelly's got her background in this. I believe she's got a masters now.

She's almost got her masters in this kind of thing. So, she is experienced. She's been working in it for years now. We need to look at what the good this brings to the community. Thank you guys. Hi, I'm Chancellor Hopson. I live at 1071 East Pearly Road. And um I just want to say a couple things. Um I dealt with addiction for years. I have been in recovery now for um almost three years. And luckily I had a home to come home to. [clears throat] Um if I would not have then I I don't know what I would have done. But um I just want to say that uh three years ago I was going to prison. I um I just could not get out of my addiction. Okay. And um so I went to rehab and I made a change and I got involved with the 12step program and um because I had a home to go to home to and uh I was involved with my uh 12step community, then I was able to uh stay clean, but um then I want to go back to school. So I'm getting ready to graduate with my bachelor's degree in May. So, I went from going to prison to graduating. I actually have a 3.94 GPA and I'm actually going to try to go to law school. Um, so it's not just Kelly that's going to be helping out with these people and getting this house going. Um, I'm very passionate about this and I just want to be there to help the other people because I know that this is something that we need and no

matter where it goes, somebody's going to have an issue with it really. There's not going to be whether whether it's around other houses or somewhere, there's always going to be a problem with it. And um I just think that we need to look past that. And I also know that um places like the Genesis House over in Harrison County um they have not had the problems like um Susan was worried about. And also um the I think the place is abandoned right now. So uh like Kirstson said, putting that business there would help. Um and I just think it would be a good move for this community. That's how I am. My name is Heather Pennington. I live 17way Boulevard. Um, I just want to bring a little bit of a different perspective. I guess I had no intention of speaking. I'm in full support of this, but my perspective is I am the nursing director at an inpatient male facility. Um, I've been there for 10 years. Um, actually 13 years. For the last six years, I've been blessed to be able to take care of men that are in recovery. So, some of these guys are coming from jail. Some of these guys are coming from the streets. But what I am here to tell you all is that I do get returning patients. A lot of them, the most of my returning patients are ones that have a terrible discharge plan. Buildings like what Kelly is doing. Discharge plan perfect. Hardly ever see them. They'll come back meetings, different things like that. Um, I'm just going to run through a couple of things that I just wanted to bring up just because I work in this every single day. Have for a while. Feel blessed to do so. Um, we're talking about how this will affect teens. Um, I really wish that

working in an ice cream shop would keep somebody from getting involved in addiction. So, I'll just take that that part out. Um, I really think that women that are in recovery and have put in the work to get to where they're going to be in this recovery house, they would probably be the ones that I would want my kids to be around because they're fighting tooth and nail to get to where they are right now. And I guarantee you they have a different outlook on life being where they are at this point. Um, we keep talking about location. I know Kelly checked into a place um that probably size-wise and different things like that earlier in the year probably would have been a good option where we're talking about being close to resources and that means this this was out in the country. So these people are coming from um you know the throws of addiction. Maybe they've detoxed in a hospital. Maybe they've been lucky enough to spend 30 days with me. Now they're going to the next step. These people usually don't have vehicles. You know this addiction has taken everything from them. everything, families, homes, you know, I'm I've had um famous people. I've had people that were homeless. You know, someone did say addiction does not discriminate. It does not. Um so, they need to be close to resources because they need to be able probably to walk to a job, to walk to a grocery store, different things like that. Um like I said, this is a Okay, so when they come to me, we're already getting the ball rolling. You know, maybe they were in jail, maybe their gave them an ultimatum. You go to treatment or you're we're done with you. I've seen it all. All I know is that whenever they make the call to come and see me or they want to get treatment or whatever happens that makes them change their mind, this is the first step into a long process, but this is a very crucial step. So once you get that ball rolling in that direction, they need to go to sober living. That keeps the ball rolling in the right direction. Like I said, they don't have a good discharge plan. to

come back and see me. They're going to start all over again. Um, let's see. Um, not everybody that will be going to Kelly will be coming straight from jail. This is different than a halfway house. I think there's a lot of miscommunication there, misconceptions, different things like that. Um, look things up. There's Google, YouTube for everything. Look it up. See what a residential program is. See what a sober living is. It is very strict. We keep talking about no yard. People that live in apartments, do they have yards? No. Um my facility is very small. It is in a square. We house 38 patients whenever we are full. All men. Um one of our two of our rooms actually um three guys in a room. They've been talking about putting bunk beds in. And the reason is because more people need this type of help. So as long as they have, you know, room to move and all that different stuff, the whole point is they're not going to be staying there all day. These people are fighting to get their lives back. They're going to be spending time with family. Groups are huge. A job like probably 20 out of 20 hours out of their day. They're going to have programming shoved down their throats. 12step programs, different things like that. So, you know, we get to go home. We have the luxury of laying on the couch just chilling, whatever. These people are learning how to live again. That's why this is important. Um, I feel like, yes, this is a a pilot program, a test, but I feel like this is already shut down before it even begins because we're being the location. We're we're talking about homeless people and burning mattresses. Kelly had nothing to do with this. Life House had nothing to do with that. Like, you're already punishing this location or this opportunity for things that have happened in the past. Um, I don't think that Salem is ever going to grow if people don't start having open minds about things. I'm not from Salem. My husband's on the city council. He agrees

with this. He's a huge advocate and supporter for this program. In the beginning, was he um really open-minded to things like this? No. But this is what happens whenever you have someone that can educate you and you are willing to learn and you're willing to open your mind. Um, let's see. if there's anything else. I mean, I just I feel like we are forgetting the main issue here or the the bottom line and that is these women are in recovery. They're not going to these houses. They're not going there to sell drugs. They're not going there. They're not going to have their dealers coming and different things like that. Um, is there a possibility that people could show up? Sure, there's a possibility somebody could show show up to find me at Walmart, at the gas station. it doesn't matter. You know, this is something these women are learning how to relive start all over. So, I really think that um some of these are valid points. I get it. Um I'm not big on zoning and all that. That's my husband can deal with that. Chuck can deal with that. That's that's not my thing. My thing is helping people in recovery. I'm good at it. Our facility does really well. I am in Cordon. I am in Harrison County. I am familiar with Freed from Within. I know that that was brought up. Genesis house. Yes. Um I'm all men, so I'm excited about this women showing out this thing blowing up. And then I can send my guys here, too. And then, you know, like right now, a lot of people probably don't know that there is an inpatient program in Gordon, but there is. So, some people here don't want to go to Indie or Louisville or bigger facilities. This is help close to home. They can go 30 miles up the road, come right back home, whole new guy, whole new woman. So, I'm just encouraging you all to not punish this this facility, this opportunity for growth um by previous things in the building and not be so close-minded. So, that's just my

Is there any additional comment from the public? Hello, my name is Judy Jenkins and I am one of the homeless people. She's afraid. I recovered. I'm 60 days and I walk by her business every day. I don't I like to go in there one day when I get a job. But right now, I don't even acknowledge that. The place she's looking at is wonderful. I'll walk by it every day. I walk to the grocery store through probation like I do every day. I don't have a car. I've never had a driver's license. So, I walk everywhere I go. And that is a perfect spot. I'm sorry she don't agree or nobody else does, but like I said, I've never had license, so I'm not going to drive without a license. And I walk everywhere. I'm getting baptized someday. I never thought I'd do it again. I never thought I'd be clean again. And we're talking about eight beds to a room. What does jail do? Eight beds to a room, guys. They really do. I just got out three months ago. First time ever in trouble. And I for Miss Kelly's program, if y'all I would love to volunteer. [snorts] Thank you. That's all I've got to say. [applause] BEFORE we turn Okay, before we turn it back over to the applicant, um, are there any additional public

commenters? Going once. going twice. All right. Um, [clears throat]

long board meetings are the worst. So, I'm going to try to make this real quick. I just want to touch on some things that I heard and there was so much and I'm just in awe um of both um sides of this. I think that it's amazing that there's been so much thought put into um this property. even when it's not what I want um want to hear. I think that it's amazing that so many people have come shown up and expressed their feelings. I do want to say that in the six years that I've been in recovery, I have been in college um for the better part of that. Um I am also a forensic navigator who works in the Scott County Jail. So my job actually is formulating positive safe re-entry plans with people who are incarcerated. So every day I go into the jail and I am working with people so that when they get out of jail they have an answer to the hardest question that or hardest decision that I had to make. So when I got out of Washington County jail, let me backtrack. I moved to Washington County in 2014. I was a librarian in Harrison County. I was introduced to heroin and meth here and in five years everything was lost. I was a shell of the woman that I was and I went to jail. And when I got out of jail, I had a decision to make of which car I was going to get into. I had some of the women that are here tonight waiting for me in the parking lot. And I also had my drug dealer waiting there for me. And in that car was celebration heroin because who doesn't want to celebrate when they get out of jail? That is what we face in this community. It was certainly my reality. And thank God I got in the right car and went to a recovery residence. But not many people want to go as far as I had to go to find myself. I had to leave my community. I had to leave my children to go get the help I needed. So someone mentioned credentials. I am credentialed in many

things. I am credentialed in suicide risk assessment. I am credentialed in culturally responsive. Actually, nine people that work on the Life House team are signed up to participate and become mental health first aers, which is an extensive training on November 17th. So, Life House is not just about helping people who struggle with addiction. It's about educating our community and putting mental health opportunities in our community. There are some resources already here that was addressed. Um, we have a lifesprings, we have a hospital. Um, I also want to state that the funding for this program, um, is not taxpayer dollars. Um, a lot of, like you heard, we have a lot of, um, faith-based support. And we also have hundreds of thousands of opioid settlement funds right here in Washington County that cannot be used for anything but these remediation strategies for people who suffer with addiction. And those funds are specific to remediation for opioid use disorder. Um there are unrestricted funds very a smaller amount that could be used for other things which I think is great. But the larger amounts of this money I think 70 some odd percent of the funds that are coming in are used for um implementing recovery strategies in our community. Okay. So the property is not in a flood zone friends. I want to address that. It is actually the flood zone stops at the alleyway from what I understand according to the information we got from um the department and we have a team member that deals with that. I am not knowledgeable in those things. Um so I I did hear Jason mention that it flooded one time. Um the reason this property is so ideal, it's a year we have a year-long business plan pilot program. It's very very important that people understand that in a year we can

have outcomes and what comes with outcomes more funding. We have to have numbers to present and we have to see the success rate of the program. We will not house more than eight women. We will start with three or four. We will not fill to capacity in the beginning. Um most of these women will be mothers. They will be already in recovery. Um, someone mentioned they are not just incarcerated populations or justice impacted individuals. They are people who have graduated treatment programs. Um, securing beds for someone and I wish that I could almost roleplay a scenario of someone who needs more a different level of care than we are able to provide. I am professionally trained in helping someone find the right level of care. This property is ideal. It is um it was zoned as commercial. It's actually more of a residential setting. It has um bedrooms and um a kitchen and it is a beautiful and ideal location for us to come together as a community. As far as programming is concerned, we have a very extensive level of programming. Honestly, most of the time we'll be there sleeping. If we're their working schedules, they can only work daytime. They have to be home by 5:30 for dinner as a family. um they have programming until about 900 p.m. and then they have to be in bed by 10:00 so they can get up for work. Um if anyone has ever been to a recovery residence, you know that those things are enforced very strictly. Um Life House alleviates a lot of the problems that were addressed or brought to the board. I think that it's so important to um understand this alleviates unhoused people. If a woman comes out of incarceration and doesn't have anywhere to go, she's going to go where she's always gone. Um, or she's going to be homeless, um, if she has a safe place to go, she's going to have the tools and

necessary to rebuild her life. Relapse is very common without adequate support. Relapse in people who go to recovery residences is much lower than people who do not. Actually, evidence shows that people who go to recovery residences experience lower recidivism. They experience higher employment rates. They have stronger family reunification and of of course a less risk of those who of relapse of those who try to recover alone. So, I think it's important to understand we need to start small because we don't want to be impulsive. We want to be smart and we want to help people adequately. We don't want to halfass this. I think it's so important to understand that we have been strategic every step of the way and the collaboration that we've gotten from nursing directors of treatment facilities, from people who serve as supervisors in recovery community organizations in different communities. Every one of our team members, and it's a big team. A lot of people been saying Kelly's program. This is definitely not Kelly's program. This is a group of really passionate people who are trained and skilled to help people in Washington County recover and also become productive members of our society. Um, I want to address too that we were not offered a property. I was never given a specific property. I was never I there was a comment made that there had to be other properties or there was the possibility of other properties. Um, I want to say that we never denied anyone any information. I was never specifically asked for anything. Um, I provided Mr. Allen with information that I thought he would benefit from, but I was never asked for any specific information. Men are not allowed on the property. This is a women's facility. Um, our pilot program is a women's facility. Men are not allowed. We have a surveillance system. We have technical support to make sure. We have a team member who is trained to provide

technical support and able to install security systems. It's no different than any other business on that street. Anybody can be broken into. Anybody can show up at your property that you don't want. We have the same access to um intervention that any of those other businesses have. I think that this community is going to be blessed by this program. I believe it wholeheartedly. Um it's it's going to grow and it's going to be a great thing and people's lives are going to be changed by it. I'm done. All right. Um, I'll go back through the criteria just, you know, we've had a a pretty long session of public comment. Um, so I'll go back through the criteria both from our zoning ordinance and from Indiana Code. And then obviously feel free to deliberate amongst yourselves, ask questions of the applicant um, as you see fit as well. Uh I'll jump into the criteria in the zoning ordinance for a use variance is that it's not a park.

The criteria for a use variance under the zoning ordinance is that it is it must not be contrary to the public interest. It must be the need must be due to conditions peculiar to the property and not the result of actions of the applicant. and it must be that literal enforcement of the zoning ordinance would result in unnecessary and undue hardship. The five criteria that are set forth in the Indiana code are first that the approval will not be injurious to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare of the community. The the second is that the use and value of the area adjacent to the property included in the variance will not be affected in a substantially adverse manner. The third criteria is that the need for the variance arises from some condition peculiar to the property involved. The fourth criteria is that strict application of the terms of the zoning ordinance will constitute an unnecessary hardship if applied to the property for which the variance is sought. And lastly, the fifth criteria is that the approval does not interfere substantially with the city's comprehensive plan. The board must make a determination in the affirmative on all five of those criteria in order to grant the use variance that is being sought. Um so with that feel again feel free to deliberate amongst yourselves and ask questions uh as you desire of the applicant.

[clears throat]

the current property zone is what? It is um the central business district. Let me pull up the Yes, it's central business district if you'd like. I can read a little bit about that from the zoning ordinance. That would be helpful.

Um, so under uh section 156.057, 057. Uh it sets forth the criteria and the regulations for the central business district. Uh the central business district is intended to protect and improve the central business district which [clears throat] can which contains many unique and/or historical structures. The district promote promotes commercial, retail uses as well as housing, offices, government, financial, cultural, and other complimentary uses. Because of the downtown's unique character and historical setting, it requires special consideration and treatment. The scale and intensity of development permitted within the central business district reflects its importance as an urban center of the community by establishing less restrictive requirements in regard to parking, building setbacks, lot widths, lot depth, lot coverages, and other performance standards which are necessary in other business districts. The following uses are permitted in the central business district subject to all necessary permits and approvals and other applicable requirements. Enclosed amusement arcades, communications facilities, bars and taverns, bed and breakfast, churches, community centers, cultural facilities, daycare centers, and dwelling units limited to second floor or above or above on the public square. Dwelling units off the public square. Financial institutions, fire stations, police stations, home occupations, cottage industry, professional offices, governmental offices, lodge halls, restaurants, retail sales, and enclosed buildings, barber shops, beauty parlors, parking garages, business service, personal service, enclosed recreation centers, drugstores, indoor theaters,

photography studios, and tailoring and garment production. I can go on a little further if you'd like, but that's the I think the core of it. [snorts] for for the board members. I would encourage that if you're

Yeah, you need to talk to the room and into the microphone for the record. So on the facility, are you going to have like a buzz system to be able to go in and out a bus system? Like at the women's shelter, they have to um push a button to buzz in. Oh, so yes, our doors would be locked. We have a security system, too. So our girls aren't free to leave when they want. I mean, there's supervision.

You said the maximum females it would be eight. on on the diagram that I handed to you that the four beds are single beds. The room next to it with two beds would be bunk beds. And let me say to you about that, so 12 was the idea, but according to our lease agreement, Jason requested that we don't go past eight and we agreed to that term. So that was a preliminary furniture plan drawn up by our architectural team. And I just want to say that if it says bunk beds, that's why. That was really early before we had the lease. So, it is eight total at max.

And your your residents that you're planning on having and stuff, are they coming from this community and not from, let's say, you know, Harrison County or or wherever? So I want to say I work in the Scott County Jail and a team of women that work with Lighthouse. Actually a few of them sit on the board work in the Washington County Jail for ministry. So my career, my job working inside the Scott County jail. There's not recovery residences there. So I've not eliminated the idea that we would bring in women who came out of incarceration from Scott County. Um and I don't believe Harrison County would use us because they have so much use them as an example.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. So, I would say most of our residents would be Washington County, but it is very likely that as someone who works in the Scott County jail, if we needed because it's 20 miles, it would be closer than say Grace Haven and Pey, um, we wouldn't be opposed to accepting someone from that area, someone who's been incarcerated, who has been without substance use for a length of time, which is an eligibility criteria of our program. I get some concerns too.

Chuck, do you have any insight on this? Well, yeah. Um, has this all been submitted to the state far as the fire marshall? He overlooked all your plans and your drawings and everything. So, um, could I ask Mike to speak? He's our architectural engineer and he has Can you repeat that? Have you talked to the fire? Uh, I think preliminarily we have, but we haven't we're not done with construction documents. They're just finishing up. But I think we can't send them to the state until the Right. Right. Right. We wouldn't submit to the state permit until we have talked to the local right

there discussion. You said you're going to have somebody on site 247 to kind of oversee them. Yes. One note um and this is for you all as well as the audience because we have just three members tonight uh it'll take all a vote of all three members to carry any motion. discussion.

I don't I don't think of anything. It looks like everything's covered and the crowd has shown there's a need for it tonight. So, do you guys feel like that does it feel like it's a fit to you? Absolutely. I believe so. So, on that note, I'm going to make a motion to approve 2025-14.

Is there a second? Second. Uh, all in favor say I. I. I. The motion carries. [applause] that you have met all five of those things that read off that it meets all of those and it doesn't contradictory to any of that because I'd like to have that in writing please that that'll be refle Yes we'll have that reflected in the minutes that'll be approved at the next meeting

is should it not have been addressed during this meeting to say number one it has done this number two it has done this. So what was communicated to the board is that in order to approve it that means that you were you have considered each of these to be satisfied but we will get something in writing stating that all these board members have signed off that all these things have been met. Yes, that will be we're not going to be mailing that out, but you know there there will be minutes written minutes that will reflect that you know each of the criteria have been met to satisfy the ordinance and the record of that meeting is is also available online.

All right. Can anybody find Anthony? Is he asleep in the hallway? Well, I think we probably have minutes to We probably have minutes to approve from the prior meeting. Hey Ronnie, do we have minutes to approve? Do we have minutes to approve from the last meeting?

We're also trying to Yeah. Then we found we found our chair. just for everyone, we we have other business to complete. So, you want to leave or Well, if you would like to converse, um if you could do so in the hallway or outside the building, thank you.

Correct. I believe so. Um, I don't have a paper copy of them here. Uh, Gina may have Gina. Gina,

the minutes to last last meeting. Do we have Do we have minutes to approve from the last meeting? Okay. Well, we can we can do them at the next meeting, but all we all we need now is a motion to adjourn. Okay. I would entertain a motion to adjure the public. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I don't. I don't think you were. I think it was. You know what? We can roll them to the next meeting. You welded it in.