Continuance Granted

By Dylan Marsh
EAGLE TIMES STAFF
CLAREMONT — On November 7, 2022, the Zoning Board of Adjustment has granted a continuance to Shawn Cannizzaro for the purpose of increasing allowable living space at 15 Skinner Street.

Cannizzaro, who operates an all-male sober living facility on Factory Street in Claremont, is looking to use 15 Skinner Street as a potential all-female sober living facility. His intention is to use the property, which is assessed as a single-family home, to house up to eleven residents. This use is not contemplated in the city center residential zoning district and therefore necessitates a zoning permit. In 2019, the zoning board granted a variance for the property to be used as an assisted living facility but due to neither the variance nor the site plan being exercised, they have become null and void.

The proposal was met with several rebuttals from the current residents of the dead-end street. Many of the residents voiced concerns of traffic as well as their safety, many also stated that if the facility were to be approved, they would immediately try to sell their homes. Zoning board member Todd Russell reminded them that by the city’s zoning laws Cannizzaro is already allowed to house five unrelated people in the home and that he is asking to increase that number.

“I don’t think the public will be affected by this. I know sober living homes have a bad reputation. People, rightfully so, think a lot of drug traffic will come to the neighborhood, which to be honest in my personal and professional opinion people that are actively using drugs and alcohol don’t want to go anywhere near that,” Cannizzaro stated to the zoning board.

Cannazzaro also pointed out that in the almost year he has owned and operated the facility on Factory Street the police have never been called, nor have they had traffic issues. He stated that it’s the facilities rules and structure that have made it so that the Factory Street residence is a safe place due to the high level of accountability required from its tenants.

“At the men’s facility, we operate as a single family, we go to church together, we eat dinner together. I’m not trying to come in and bring a bunch of riff raff,” Cannizzaro said.

Some concerns raised by neighbors on Skinner Street included one resident stating that he, “didn’t want potheads walking through his yard” and was worried about traffic despite Cannizzaro explaining that parking would not be allowed on the street and the majority of people in recovery not having driver’s licenses.

Some Skinner Street residents insisted that they would sell their homes if the sober living facility were to become established including Brenda Jatko who said,

“I’m not going to feel safe with this. If this goes in we are going to have to sell our home.

I get that people out there need things like this, but they made their choice to get into drugs and alcohol.”

Afterward residents of the men’s facility spoke to the importance of having places like this in the community and the ways in which not only the facility but Cannizzaro himself have been instrumental to helping the men get their lives on track.

“These people saved my life and gave me a chance to live. Nothing but good has come out of the house on Factory Street,” said Tyrell Barss, who also stated that the Factory Street house doesn’t see any traffic.

They’re asking for 11 beds, if it were just five, they’d be opening this in the neighborhood and there isn’t anything anyone can do about it. These folks are really trying to do the right thing,” said zoning board member Russell.

The hearing has been continued and the board has asked Cannizzaro to provide more information about the facility in an effort for him to prove the necessary hardship factor required for a zoning variance. The next meeting is scheduled for December 5.