City questions use of motel

Laguna Beach has ordered Spencer Recovery Center to cease

unauthorized use of a motel at 2020 South Coast Highway by Sept. 30.

The motel, called the Laguna Beach Inn, was closed to the public

Jan. 1. However, the motel is being occupied, city officials and

neighbors said, although the owner has not obtained a permit to

change the use from short-term lodging, as required by the municipal

code.

“We believe that periodically, if not more often, the motel is

fully occupied,” Assistant City Manager John Pietig said Monday. “We

have also asked the California Coastal Commission to consider writing

a letter to Spencer. We haven’t heard back yet.”

A letter ordering Spencer to cease unauthorized use of the motel

was sent Sept. 6 by City Attorney Philip Kohn.

“If unauthorized activities continue at the motel, we will move

forward with legal action,” Pietig said.

Motel owner Christopher Spencer obtained a state license from the

Joint Committee on Accreditation of Health Care Organizations to

operate a 24-hour drug and alcohol recovery or treatment program at

the former motel.

However, he still must have a permit from the city, Pietig said.

“State agencies usually put the burden of complying with local

ordinances on the applicant,” Pietig said.

The motel is in the C-1 (commercial) zone of the city. A drug and

alcohol rehab facility may not be operated at the site without a

conditional use permit, which the owner does not have, Pietig said.

Spencer bought the Laguna Beach Inn on Dec. 27, 2002. He applied

at the time to convert it into a second recovery center, but the city

denied the use.

“My son has been sober for 10 years, so I am very sympathetic to

people who are trying to rehabilitate their lives, but the law still

should be obeyed,” motel neighbor Bill DeLand said.

Although the motel has paid no bed taxes this year to the city,

the amount of trash put out for collection is evidence of occupation,

said Woods Cove resident Mark Fleming, who photographed the

overflowing trash containers and piles of garbage in bags on Labor

Day weekend.

“It’s like that every week,” Fleming said. “And we are seeing more

raccoons, skunks and rats in the neighborhood.”

Fleming said vehicles are parked on the site and the swimming pool

is used.

The city rejected by letter on Sept. 6 an application to expand

the kitchen facilities at the motel.

An employee at the state-accredited Spencer Recovery Center at

1316 South Coast Highway, also owned by Spencer, said the motel was

being used in conjunction with the program.

“I believe we use the facility for clients who have progressed

into sober living,” program manager Robin McGeough said.

Woods Cove residents said a drug and alcohol rehabilitation center

was not appropriate so close to a family neighborhood, on the route

used by children to go to the beach.

The center at 1316 S. Coast Highway is close to several bars,

hotels, a homeless shelter and restaurants. Nearby residents failed

to convince the city to deny Spencer a permit to operate the center.

Spencer, who also operates facilities in Boulder, Colo., and

Clearwater, Fla., according an Internet guide to drug and alcohol

addiction recovery, charges more than $12,000 for a 28-day stay at

the Laguna Beach Center. The stays vary in length, depending on

individual need.

The in-patient program consists of three phases: medical

detoxification, primary rehabilitation and family days.

Primary care is a 30-day inpatient program that offers individual,

group and family therapy that includes exercise, meditation and

nutrition.

City records show that Spencer owns eight properties in Laguna

Beach.