ZBA rules against 11 Lincoln St. being boarding house for folks battling addiction

The building at 11 Lincoln Street formerly served as a staffed assisted living facility for the elderly (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - The effort to convert a former assisted living residence for the elderly into a boarding house for individuals dealing with substance abuse was denied on Wednesday by the city's Zoning Board of Adjustment.
Scott Carter of Brighter Day Recovery was seeking a variance to have a 16-room boarding house for individuals dealing with addiction, but several on the board were concerned that there would be no programming, treatment or personnel of any kind on the premises, likening it more to a "halfway house."
Carter said from a land use perspective, nothing had changed, because just like with elderly housing, there would be individuals living in rooms in a congregate living setting.
Speaking for the city, Planning and Development Director Seth Creighton noted that the former elderly facility approved back in the 1980s was staffed and that a Residential 2 zone did not recommend a boarding house.
"If this were downtown you might be able to get a variance but it's not recommended in a neighborhood," he said.
ZBA member Robert Longo cited a "perceived risk to neighborhood safety" in an area near a park and a school.
The board ended up voting unanimously to deny the variance.
They also denied Eastside Tavern owner Steven Fleming a variance to locate an electronic sign that included a message board outside his building at 43 Highland St. in East Rochester.
Fleming wanted the sign to be able to display special events at the tavern and restaurant specials.
Creighton advised the board that this type of sign is not allowed in an R2 zone. Creighton also noted that there was no hardship exhibited by the business if it did not get the electronic message board.