Pueblo Recovery House LLC: Public hearing for proposed residential treatment facility in Pueblo West

(PUEBLO WEST, Colo.) — A proposal for a residential treatment facility in Pueblo West will go before the Pueblo County Planning Commission on Wednesday, Aug. 21 and the public is invited to attend and give their comments.

What is Pueblo Recovery House LLC?

Case documents for Pueblo Recovery House LLC, or PRH for short, are detailed on Pueblo County’s website and include the proposed location as 315 South Archdale Drive in a recently constructed, unoccupied duplex.

The first in a series of documents dated April 25, 2024, is a ‘Letter of Request for Special Use Permit’ by applicant Perla Ramirez-Groothuis, CEO of PRH. Listed in the bolded ‘Request’ portion states: “A Special Use Permit to allow a residential treatment facility, by definition a “halfway house,” in a Mixed Residential (R-4) Zone District.”

FOX21 News reached out to Ramirez-Groothuis on Monday, Aug. 12, who clarified what the facility would offer:

It’s important to note that the work we aim to provide as Pueblo Recovery House is being described as a “halfway house” in county application paperwork and circulating comments, which is actually a bit misleading. Our work will include intensive treatment and rehabilitation services for individuals struggling with addiction in a 24-hour setting, which is quite different from a halfway house that primarily offers housing for individuals in recovery and transitioning back into society. There is a significant difference between the two. The differences between the two are not only that we are a state-licensed residential treatment program providing therapeutic services, but our level of monitoring, supervision, and oversight of residents will be far greater than that of a halfway house. Our staffing model will include, at a minimum, a physician, a nurse, addiction counselors, and case workers. At least two staff members will be on-site at all times, no matter what. Program residents will not be allowed to roam freely around the surrounding neighborhoods at any time and discharged residents must have pre-arranged transportation when leaving the facility. Additionally, I will always be available by phone, directly, should anyone in the community have a problem or concern.

Perla Ramirez-Groothuis, CEO of Pueblo Recovery House LLC

Community notification and feedback

On May 23, 2024, according to case documents, a project notice was posted on two nearby businesses, and a notification letter was also mailed out the next week, on May 29, to several addresses in the area regarding an upcoming neighborhood meeting to learn about the proposed residential treatment house. Six people, according to the sign-in list attended the meeting, which took place on June 14, 2024, at the Pueblo West Library.

In the same documents, a nearby business, that could not attend the meeting, expressed some concerns and questions via email on June 13, 2024, regarding the “residential treatment house.”

According to the emails, the concerns included; whether residents at PRH would be required to stay on the property, if they would be supervised 24/7, and if there would be video surveillance equipment at the facility, just to name a few.

Ramirez-Groothuis responded via email and answered, in part, with the following:

• Residents are required to stay inside the home the entirety of their stay. Not doing so may result in being discharged from the program.
• Residents will also be supervised 24/7 by our team.
• Yes, we will have video surveillance equipment on the property.

Why this location?

Included in the ‘Letter of Request for Special Use Permit,’ the document also explains why PRH is proposing to operate its facility in the particular area.

“The requested use of halfway housing is a use listed as a special use in the R-4 zone district,” according to the document. “Our proposal is supported by the Pueblo Regional Comprehensive Plan, as Goal 1.1.6 has identified the need for supported services that ‘meet the needs of vulnerable populations, such as the elderly, those afflicted with drug or alcohol addiction, and those transitioning away from homelessness.'”

Ramirez-Groothuis further explained the need to open a residential treatment facility in Pueblo County:

It’s no secret that Pueblo County is in dire need of additional treatment facilities and beds to tackle its drug problem. Pueblo Recovery House is here to bring some vital services to the area, facilitating the healing and recovery of our beloved family, friends, and neighbors. Our team recognized a problem and has been led to use our skills, expertise, and resources to make a difference. As our name shows, Pueblo Recovery House was created for the people of Pueblo.

Perla Ramirez-Groothuis, CEO of Pueblo Recovery House LLC

Special Use Permit stipulations

On July 15, 2024, an email was sent by the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development to various agencies in the area, requesting comments on the Special Use Permit.

One of the responses came from the Pueblo Regional Building Department the same day and included the following:

“Regional Building has the following stipulations: This constitutes a change in occupancy for this address and the project will be required to go through the routing and commercial plan review process. Information for the commercial plan review process can be found at our website.”

Public hearing details

FOX21 News reached out to Anthony Mestas, Interim Public Information Officer and Multimedia Specialist for Pueblo County, to learn more about the public hearing this month.

The project has not yet been approved by Pueblo County and will be going before the Planning Commission for action on Wednesday, August 21, 2024.

Anthony Mestas, Interim PIO/Multimedia Specialist for Pueblo County

The hearing is scheduled to take place in the Commissioner’s Chambers at the Historic Courthouse, located at 215 West 10th Street, beginning at 5:30 p.m.

“There is no need to RSVP. This is a Public Hearing and comments will be accepted either in writing to: planning@pueblocounty.us or in person at the meeting,” wrote Mestas. “Written comments should be provided no later than Monday, August 19, by 5 p.m.”

The Aug. 21 hearing will not be the last step for PRH, however.

What are the next steps if approval is given?

According to case documents, Ramirez-Groothuis was notified via email from the Pueblo County Department of Planning and Development, dated Aug. 8, 2024, that “If the PC [Planning Commission] approves the special use permit, you [Ramirez-Groothuis] will need to then appeal the decision of the PWMD [Pueblo West Metro District] Community Development by applying for a variance.”

Attached in the same email was a ‘letter of comment’ sent on behalf of the PWMD Community Development Department which stated in part:

The PWMD Community Development Department has reviewed the proposed Pueblo County land use case and commented below. The type of business being proposed is considered a ‘commercial’ business. The suggested use of this property would be a clear violation of our Pueblo West Declaration of Reservations, known as our covenants.

The letter went on to list the covenants, which can be found here and further explained:

“These restrictions and guidelines are recorded on the property to protect your investment in Pueblo West. You can file an appeal with Pueblo West Community Development by going through the Variance application process. There is a non-refundable $500 fee for this process.”

FOX21 News reached out to Terri O’Donnell, the Committee of Architecture Manager for PWMD, who stated the following when we reached out to confirm the appeal process. “Yes, I can confirm that the facility can file an appeal with Pueblo West Community Development by going through the Variance application process,” O’Donnell wrote.

The Aug. 8 email further explained: “Pueblo West Metro District may be more strict than Pueblo County, and if the variance is denied, Pueblo County cannot supersede that decision.”

Community connection

Ramirez-Groothuis sent the following statement regarding the upcoming meeting and her hopes for connecting with the community.

“Our team is working hard to make these services a reality and available to the community within the next couple of months. Overall, we’re humbled by the support we’ve received thus far and are prepared to help ease any fears or concerns the community of Pueblo West may have at the public hearing on August 21st,” wrote Ramirez-Groothuis. “As business owners, we understand that our success in accomplishing our goal requires the community’s trust and support in what we do. We hope the public hearing will accomplish this.”

To learn more about PRH and the development proposal, click on the case documents above.

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