SAFFORD — The Graham County Board of Supervisors conducted a bit of house cleaning to make sure things move smoothly for the next phase of Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition’s effort to help those dealing with addiction.
During Monday’s meeting, the Supervisors unanimously approved rezoning for a pair of parcels that involve the community’s sober living facilities.
A land swap that allowed development of the Marge Schade House of Hope failed to account for the different zoning between the two parcels exchanged. The board approved changing the land involving the sober living facilities to Multi-Family Residential (R-M) and rezone the land traded to Special Development (SD).
Planning and Zoning Director Steve McGaughey said there were no negative comments about the sober living facility.
“I did talk to a couple of neighbors down there, and (they) said, ‘These people have been tremendous neighbors,’ and they’re happy they’re there,” McGaughey said.
The Marge Schade House of Hope Sober Living Facility serves men transitioning back into the community from rehab or incarceration. Ground was broken in December for a second facility, the Caring Hearts Sober Living Facility, to provide the same service for women.
During the groundbreaking, Kathy Grimes, executive director for the Graham County Substance Abuse Coalition, said she hopes the Caring Hearts Sober Living Facility for women can be up and running by the late third quarter of this year.
