The Santa Rosa City Council has cleared the way for Pura Vida Recovery Services to quadruple its capacity in Skyhawk, rejecting intense appeals from local residents.
The Press Democrat reports the decision allows the facility to expand from 6 to 24 beds at its Highway 12 commercial site, with officials ruling the project consistent with city zoning laws.
During a heated three-hour hearing, council members defended the move as a vital response to the regional addiction crisis, rebuking claims that recovery centers don’t belong in residential neighborhoods. Opponents from “Skyhawk United” argued the expansion threatens local safety and neighborhood integrity, citing proximity to an elementary school and potential traffic issues.
While the council declined to add extra hurdles like evacuation studies, the center must now maintain 24-hour staffing and a neighbor hotline.
Despite the vote, residents have vowed to monitor the site closely for any code violations, signaling that the community tension is far from over.