City Council approves settlement proposed by organization’s officials

Secret Harbor has received a green light to locate a group home in Sedro-Woolley.

The non-profit organization received approval during the Aug. 13 City Council meeting when the Council passed a settlement agreement proposed by Secret Harbor officials.

The organization’s Attorney Stephen H. Roos submitted the proposal to city officials in July. It requested the city revoke its requirement for a conditional-use permit in order for the organization to house six of its students in a group home located at 939 State St.

In the letter, Roos cited the Washington Housing Policy Act, which makes it illegal for a city to mandate any additional requirements on residential structures that will be occupied by individuals who are legally handicapped.

In an attachment to Roos’ letter, Secret Harbor consulting psychiatrist Dr. Robert Fleming said all children in Secret Harbor’s program suffer from at least one or more specific psychological or learning disorders that significantly limit their abilities to live in another type of residential setting and can interfere with their ability to learn.

Sedro-Woolley Supervisor and Attorney Eron Berg said in a memo to the Council that although the City could uphold its authority to require a conditional-use permit, he recommended the Council approve the settlement since the potential for “a judicial loss exists and could result in substantial damages against the city.”

Secret Harbor CEO Brian Carroll said he thought the settlement was the best alternative for all parties.

“The conditional-use process was not a good experience, but the actual settlement was a very smooth process,” Carroll said. “We were happy for that and they made the right choice.”

The organization purchased the home last week with plans to move six of their students to the home by mid September.

According to the settlement, the organization has agreed to comply with the four conditions the city has required in order to issue a Certificate of occupancy.

Carroll said because of the setbacks created by the conditional-use permit, the original group of boys slated to move into the State Street home were relocated to other homes in the county. A group of students who are new to the program will occupy the home instead.

Carroll said the organization will “do our best to be good neighbors and have as little impact as possible on the neighborhood.”