Planning commission rules addiction recovery center is a permitted use in former Bel Aire senior living building
August 6, 2025, 6:00 p.m. · American Fork City Hall, 31 N. Church St.
The American Fork Planning Commission unanimously found that a residential treatment facility for people recovering from addiction is a permitted use in the PO-1 professional office zone at 1088 E. 390 South, the Bel Aire Senior Living site, likening it to assisted living and nursing homes already allowed there. Because of that finding the commission did not need to grant the operator's request for a reasonable accommodation under fair housing law. Commissioners also approved an AT&T rooftop equipment upgrade and learned Commissioner Bruce Frandsen had resigned.
From the approved minutes.
Decisions at a glance
| Item | Result |
|---|---|
| Liberty recovery residence use determination / reasonable accommodation, 1088 E. 390 South | Approved · 5-0 |
| AT&T tower upgrade UTL04060 site plan, 1175 E. 50 South | Approved with conditions · 5-0 |
| Commissioner Bruce Frandsen resigns | Discussed |
Agenda, item by item
Item 3a · Zoning
Liberty recovery residence use determination / reasonable accommodation, 1088 E. 390 South
Approved · 5-0
The operators of a planned residential addiction treatment program (detox, 30-90 days of inpatient treatment, then a recovery 'step-down' stage) asked for a reasonable accommodation under city code Chapter 17.15 and federal fair housing and disability law to occupy the Bel Aire Senior Living building in the PO-1 zone. Staff (Planner Annalisa Reed) said the use is not listed in PO-1, whose intent covers hospitals, medical clinics and nursing homes. City Attorney Heather Shriever explained the reasonable accommodation test. Applicants' attorney Dan McDonald said the program will have a medical director and clinical director and argued the commission can define 'hospital' or 'medical clinic.' Commissioner Geoff Dupaix pointed to code language allowing uses 'as may be permitted by action of the planning commission or city council'; Commissioner Chris Christiansen said the use fits the definition of assisted living. The commission found the use permitted in the PO-1 zone, which applies zone-wide rather than to this one property. Commissioners said the code rewrite should list the use explicitly.
- Applicant attorney: Dan McDonald (operator representative Roger Williams attended)
- Area cited: about 0.17 acres (agenda); later site plan 1.29 acres
- Zone: PO-1
- Finding: residential treatment facility for individuals with disabilities is a permitted use in PO-1
- Next step: parking determination (Oct. 8, 2025)
Item 3b · Development
AT&T tower upgrade UTL04060 site plan, 1175 E. 50 South
Approved with conditions · 5-0
Upgrade of existing rooftop cellular equipment occupying 3,445 square feet on a 2.14-acre PO-1 site. Staff said such minor cell upgrades will be decided by the Development Review Committee starting Aug. 11, 2025. (The motion lists the address as 1175 E. 50 North.)
- Applicant: AT&T
- Acres: 2.14
- Zone: PO-1
Item Other · Appointment
Commissioner Bruce Frandsen resigns
Discussed
Chair Anderson said Commissioner Bruce Frandsen emailed his resignation and that she hoped someone from the same area of the city would replace him. Staff noted code rewrite discussions starting Aug. 19.