HERMANN — A proposal to locate a residence in Hermann for those recovering from addictions in a single-family neighborhood is drawing opposition from area residents.

Brad Brown, who lives on Stone Hill Highway, last week presented the Hermann Board of Aldermen (BOA) with a petition signed by residents of the neighborhood opposing the plan by Learn to Live Recovery, an addiction-treatment organization based outside of Herman on Highway H. Learn to Live proposed up to nine unrelated people living in what is referred to as a “recovery house” in the 1000 block of Stone Hill Highway.

This single-family home would be converted into a multiple-person dwelling with the owner — Learn to Live founder Matthew Bauersachs — not living in the house, making the residence much like one of the many owner-unoccupied guesthouses throughout the city.

“We don’t even understand how this is being proposed,” Brown told the aldermen, noting that the zoning ordinance that applies to R-1 single-family districts clearly does not allow this type of housing. “This ordinance is intended to provide for low-density residential development,” the residents said in the petition presented to the BOA. “The district is designed to protect residential areas now developed,” it continued. “The regulations are designed to stabilize such areas and to promote a suitable environment for family life,” the petition added.

Because such a project is not an allowable use in the single-family district, it would require a Conditional Use Permit with city government setting specific rules and regulations for this project. The city’s Planning & Zoning Commission hears requests for Conditional Use Permits and makes a recommendation to the aldermen, who have the final say on issuing the permits.

Brown told the aldermen that allowing the recovery house in the neighborhood will result in lower property values for the nearby residents.

“This type of business and ‘home’ does not protect the residential area and actually does the opposite,” the petition said. “Property values will decrease with this type of ‘home’ on the street. This type of business/home actually destabilizes the area and does not promote a suitable environment for family life,” it said.

“We don’t want this facility up there,” Brown said during the Public Comment portion of the board’s first regular session of the month Monday, Aug. 14. He added, “We just think the location is absolutely wrong.”

Mayor Bruce Cox was non-committal in his response to Brown, thanking him for his comments and adding, “We’ll take your comments into consideration and have the aldermen address it at a later situation.”

According to its website, Learn to Live Recovery LLC provides counseling treatment from licensed counselors for people dealing with various types of addictions.

In other matters during the session, the BOA approved several other routine items:

The low bid of $14,296 for the installation of a plow and spreader by Woody’s Municipal Supply Company. Also accepted was the low bid of $7,250 from J&T Trailers of Swiss for a truck bed replacement, along with the annual renewal of CTM Distribution for rack cards distribution for the city’s Tourism Department.

Aldermen also approved a liquor license for Jun Zhang for Das Rhineland Entertainment at 101 E. 4th Street, and a picnic liquor license for Amy Grannemann for the Blake Grannemann Memorial Scholarship fundraiser set in Sesquicentennial Park Sept. 30.

Caterer’s permits were approved for Old Vine and Adam Puchta Winery for the Oct. 19 Witches & Wine event along Schiller Street; Lionheart Whiskey Company for SmokeFest 2023 at the Amphitheater on Sept. 16; Dog Master Distillery for SmokeFest 2023 at the Amphitheater on Sept. 16; Lionheart Whiskey Company for the German Town Jams set for the Amphitheater on Sept. 23; Lionheart Whiskey Company for the Sept. 10 Lionheart X Chariots Charity Motorcycle Show at Riverfront Park; Adam Puchta Winery for the Jaycees Octoberfest pavilion in Sesquicentennial Park Oct. 6, 7, 14 and 21; Adam Puchta Winery for the Sept. 9 Hermann Area District Hospital Concert at the Amphitheater; and for Hermann Families in Action for the Witches & Wine event with street closures on East 4th Street from Market to Schiller streets and on Schiller to East 2nd Street on Oct. 19.

The Gasconade County Commission will not meet Thursday, Sept. 7, at Owensville City Hall because the County Clerk’s staff will be attending its organization’s annual conference that week.