The Planning and Zoning Commission is recommending that the Town Council deny a proposed Zoning Ordinance amendment that allows detoxification facilities for drug and alcohol rehabilitation within the C-2 and C-3 zoning districts in Fountain Hills.
The commissioners voted 4-2 to recommend the denial. Commission Chairman Erik Hansen was absent from the session on April 12.
Development Services Director John Wesley said staff has recently received inquiries from people in real estate asking about properties in the downtown for such a use.
In his report to the commission, Wesley stated that such facilities can range from sub-acute, outpatient facilities to more intense inpatient facilities. The facilities can also operate in a variety of ways. In some cases, the patients are self-motivated to end their addiction and have the time and means to seek treatment. In other cases, the patient may be ordered to the facility for treatment, starting with detoxification, or they may not be as p
The Planning and Zoning Commission has delayed its discussion on a Zoning Ordinance amendment that would allow hospitals as a use in all commercial zoning districts in Fountain Hills.
Development Services Director John Wesley proposed the change as a follow-up to the Town Council approval of the Fountain Hills Medical Center within a C-1 zoning district at Trevino Drive and Saguaro Blvd.
At the time the application for the hospital was received in 2019, there was no provision for hospitals in the townâs Zoning Ordinance, according to Wesley. At that time, staff determined that C-2 would be the most appropriate zoning district for that use. The developer initially applied for a zoning change to C-2 for the subject property.