SOS Recovery shut down for second time this week, but again reopens soon after

SOS Recovery Center is in the midst of a review by the city to see if it is in compliance with current zoning regs. (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - City officials said today that a review of SOS Recovery Center's use of space at First Congregational Church is officially under way now that the nonprofit submitted a form detailing what they do there and the scope and nature of their operations.

SOS Recovery provides advocacy and support for those addicted to alcohol and drugs.

The city first became concerned about the possible scope of the operation during the summer when a petition was circulated among neighborhood and downtown residents and businesses that detailed unwanted behavior on or near the premises, including the church.

At a July City Council workshop SOS Recovery Center Director John Burns spoke of the importance of the work they do there. Also on hand were a dozen or so volunteer and paid staffers who work at SOS.

City Manager Blaine Cox told The Rochester Voice in an exclusive interview today that the city's primary goal is to assess whether the work SOS does there goes outside the realm of what would be typical of a community church such as First Congregational.

The city shut down the Recovery Center for short periods of time twice in the past week, because a form they requested had not been submitted.

Cox said SOS Director John Burns had submitted a written description of the center's uses instead of the requested form which ultimately put them in noncompliance, which triggered cease and desist orders.

The most recent closure came on Wednesday, Cox said, when city officials went over and posted a cease and desist order on the center's doors around 3:15 p.m. Cox said by the time they had returned to City Hall the form required from SOS had been emailed to the city.

Cox said upon receiving the form they immediately returned and allowed the center to reopen.

Central to what city and zoning officials will now seek to determine is whether or not the scope and operation of SOS Recovery goes beyond the typical usage of a community church.

"Getting this form on Wednesday now starts the process of looking at the activity to try to determine if the activity constitutes a change of use from what a church does," Cox said. "If it goes outside what a church typically does, yes, that could be an issue."

Cox added that the city will look at a whole range of things, including how many hours is the center open, do they have set office hours, whether the space they occupy is of exclusive use to them and also whether they pay rent or not to the church.

"We don't know the answers yet," Cox added.

There is no strict timeframe on completion of the city's review of the center's usage or any potential change of use determination, Cox said.

SOS Director John Burns was not immediately available for comment for this story.