Rehab home ordinance up for final council approval

Newport Beach City Council members may adopt an ordinance aimed at curbing the spread of drug and alcohol rehabilitation homes in Newport Beach.

The council will hold a second reading of the ordinance at its regular meeting 7 p.m. Tuesday in council chambers, 3300 Newport Blvd.

The council unanimously voted to approve the new ordinance earlier this month, which would require most homes get use permits to remain open and subject the homes to a public hearing process to gain approval.

If the council grants the new rules final approval Tuesday, the ordinance will go into effect at the end of February.

Both rehabilitation home operators and Newport Beach residents said they are unhappy with the new rules. Rehabilitation home owners claimed the rules are discriminatory, while residents said the new regulations don’t go far enough. The group Concerned Citizens of Newport Beach issued an “urgent call to action” Friday asking residents to speak in favor of a stricter ordinance at the Tuesday meeting.

— Brianna Bailey