Elmhurst Delays Decision In Sober Home Controversy

ELMHURST, IL — The Elmhurst City Council on Monday delayed a long-awaited decision on a controversial sober living home in a northwestern neighborhood.

At the beginning of a City Council meeting, Mayor Scott Levin said he expected the council to delay a vote so that an expert in fair housing laws could speak to the council next Monday. This, he said, would help the council make a more educated decision.

The council later unanimously voted to do just that.

Since 2018, Carpenter's Tools Ministries has run a sober living home at 348 N. Larch Ave. The home is seeking a permit to house up to seven men, up from the city's current zoning for the neighborhood, which allows up to four unrelated people in a house.

In late April, a City Council committee recommended approval of the proposal, but required that occupants abide by the rules as a condition of the permit.

Elmhurst officials have said they are monitoring the federal Department of Justice's lawsuit against Hinsdale for the village's efforts to close a sober home. The government alleges violations of the Fair Housing and Americans With Disabilities acts.

At Monday's council meeting, a number of Larch Avenue residents noted their support for sober living homes, but urged the council to vote against an exception to zoning rules.

"A supportive lifestye that is sober can flourish with four men just as it can with eight in the home," resident Ann Anderson said. "If the intent of the homeowner and the ministry is not to make money, then having four men in the home should be a welcome option."

Jay Webb, the home's manager, said four people are not enough.

"We have seven bedrooms. It's a big house," he said. "It would be hard for four people to cover the mortgage and the bills and what they're doing with fines and making financial amends to their families and friends."

Other residents also referred to the property's longtime owner, Gary Vician of Naperville. In 2006, an Elmhurst alderwomen went public with problems at the house, saying police were constantly being called there. In 2019, a person died of a heroin overdose at the sober home, according to a police report.

Larch resident Tim Glennon questioned how the city would enforce the rules for the sober home.

"If we're counting on the honor system, there is going to be no supervision or enforcement. History has kind of shown that enforcement happens when it's the last possible option with this particular landlord," Glennon said.

He wondered how the city would know if more than seven people were in the home.

"If there are no teeth, it doesn't matter," Glennon said.

At a council meeting last month, Webb said he knew a stigma persisted with sober homes.

"It's not likely we'll get an invitation to a block party," he said. "We're the house where if the ball goes in, no one gets it."

Larch resident Jennifer Maurer seemed to be responding to that statement in her remarks before the council Monday.

While urging the council to stick to the zoning requirements, Maurer said neighbors would support one another, wherever aldermen land on the issue.

If the city approves the home with seven people, she said, "My children will definitely be knocking on the door of 348 North Larch next year on Halloween."

Ward 2 Alderman Bob Dunn, who represents the neighborhood in question, said residents on both sides of the issue have presented well-researched information. He called it "fantastic" that residents were so engaged.

As a member of the city's Development, Planning and Zoning Committee, Dunn joined in the vote recommending approval of the sober home.

Officials said the council would vote on the sober home at its June 21 meeting.

The fair housing expert is set to address the council at a meeting at 8 p.m. Monday at City Hall. The expert's name was not released.