Community Petition Opposing Rezoning of Former Little Sisters of the Poor Senior Assisted Living Facility to Fred Brown 

We, the undersigned residents, parents, and stakeholders of the San Pedro community, respectfully submit this petition opposing the proposed change of use of the former Little Sisters of the Poor property, currently operating as Serenity Senior Village.

This property has historically operated as a senior assisted living facility, serving a vulnerable population in need of stable, long-term care. Currently in San Pedro there are only 260 beds for senior assisted living.

According to official State of California award records, on March 11, 2026, this project was awarded $73,400,878.62 in taxpayer funding through Proposition 1 (California 2024 mental health bond), a statewide initiative to expand behavioral health and substance use treatment infrastructure, with a projected completion date of March 2030.

The proposed change would convert the site into a large-scale residential and outpatient treatment facility, including:

- 106 residential treatment beds (Substance Use Disorder)

- 900 outpatient treatment capacity (SUD services)

- 88 office-based opioid treatment (OBOT) patients

- 24 partial hospitalization program (PHP) outpatient slots

- 16 peer respite residential beds

(The above figures were published by the California Department of Health Care Services)

This represents a high-capacity regional treatment operation, significantly expanding the intensity and scale of use beyond its prior function.  Based on publicly available information Fred Brown Recovery Services currently operates 32 locations, collectively serving 120-140 residential and 200-325 outpatient clients at one time. This raises legitimate concerns about whether the operator has the demonstrated experience to safely and effectively manage a facility of this size and complexity within a residential community.  Fred Brown has no prior experience with managing a facility with over 900 spaces for outpatient  services.

We oppose this change of use and request that the City formally deny or reconsider approval of this project due to its scale, intensity, and incompatibility with the surrounding residential community.

Land Use, Zoning, and Community Impact Concerns

- Consistency with applicable zoning and land use regulations

- Whether the proposed operation constitutes a commercial or institutional use within a residential setting

- Traffic, parking, and neighborhood congestion impacts

- Adequacy of on-site management, supervision, and operational controls

- Compatibility with surrounding residential uses and nearby community-serving institutions

The surrounding area includes South Shores Elementary School, White Point Elementary School, Dana Middle School, Olguin High School, and San Pedro High School. San Pedro already accommodates a significant number of residential treatment beds relative to surrounding communities, raising concerns about concentration and neighborhood balance.

Oversight, Transparency, and Compliance Concerns

A fiscal compliance audit conducted by the Los Angeles County Auditor-Controller in May 2025 identified financial reporting weaknesses and documentation gaps in clientel in Fred Brown Recovery Services.

Publicly available reviews reflect a range of experiences, including reports of abrupt discharge practices and concerns regarding operational transparency. These factors support the need for thorough City review.

Requested Actions

- Deny or reconsider approval of the proposed change of use

- Conduct a formal zoning and land use investigation

- Verify all required permits, approvals, and compliance requirements

- Evaluate whether discretionary approvals or additional conditions are required

- Assess cumulative neighborhood impacts and concentration considerations

- Ensure full compliance with all applicable local, state, and federal regulations prior to approval

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