Recovery center for homeless veterans loses bid for permit

Norwich - The city planning commission Tuesday rejected a permit application for a controversial substance-abuse recovery house that catered to homeless veterans at 337 Mohegan Park Road.

The house, owned by Vince Guilfoil, had been operating as a Serenity Recovery Living Center for about two years without permits when former Norwich Zoning Enforcement Officer Paulette Craig issued a cease-and-desist order because the facility is not allowed in a single-family zone.

Commission member Arthur Sharron cited several reasons for denying the application. Referring to a letter from city attorney Sean Sullivan, Sharron said the owner could not prove that he was operating a charitable facility. The recovery house would not be allowed in a single-family zone unless it was a charitable entity.

Sharron said the facility had not yet obtained federal nonprofit status and there was no indication of when or whether its application would be approved.

Neighbors spoke against the facility at a public hearing held in July. Four neighbors attended Tuesday's commission meeting and applauded the unanimous vote against the facility.

"Now they can keep calling this the Rose of New England," Mohegan Park Road resident Donald Burke said. "It doesn't belong in a residential neighborhood."

Residents said the facility really was a "half-way house" and that the owner was "tugging at heartstrings" in trying to call the facility a veterans' home.

Guilfoil and supporter Gerald Egan did not attend Tuesday's meeting.

Guilfoil had said the house would cater to veterans, who would receive a one-month waiver of rent and fees, but then would have to pay the $140 per week charge.

c.bessette@theday.com