Carnegie's Zoning Hearing Board has declined to act on a variance appeal for a home for recovering alcoholics and drug addicts.

The structure at 637 Beechwood Ave. has not been inspected and does not have an occupancy permit as required by the borough's property maintenance ordinance.

After a 30-minute executive session Feb. 28, following some testimony, zoning board President John Fisher explained that members "don't feel comfortable" dealing with a variance application on a home without an occupancy permit. The hearing will be continued.

Board member Bob Heinrich could not understand how the current property owner, Bruce Barnhart, of South Fayette, was able to purchase the house without an occupancy permit.

"When you buy a home, you absolutely cannot close without an occupancy permit," he said firmly.

Reportedly, Mr. Barnhart and his daughter, who opened the four-bedroom, 1¹/₂-bath facility in September, gave an unclear response involving their real estate agent. When Mr. Barnhart was contacted by phone, he hung up.

But the lack of an occupancy permit wasn't the only issue that was mired in confusion at the meeting.

Mr. Barnhart filed an affidavit Aug. 31, stating that the 2,160-square-foot home wouldn't be occupied until certain repairs were made. He signed as president of Oxford House-Carnegie, but testified last week that his daughter, Anita, actually is the president.

And then there's the matter of the home operating without the borough's knowledge until Nov. 24 when Patrolman Steve Pletcher responded to an accident and traced the vehicle to an occupant at that address.

The accident put the borough on alert, and building inspector Terry Roma immediately sent a notice to vacate the premises.

Mr. Barnhart filed an application for occupancy Nov. 29, which Mr. Roma denied Dec. 15. Under Carnegie's zoning code, such a home is not a permitted or conditional use in that neighborhood.

The denial led to the zoning board appeal.

Mr. Roma and borough Manager Stephen Vincenti explained after the meeting that Carnegie cannot shut down the house because due process has begun.

At last week's meeting, Mr. Barnhart's attorney, Steve Bovan, said Oxford House-Carnegie is not a group residence as defined by the borough zoning ordinance.

Instead, he referred to it as a family of unrelated people living together. Group residences provide room, board and supervised care, whereas Oxford House rents the house from Mr. Barnhart and subsequently leases it to subtenants, he said. The subtenants learned of the house from referral agencies.

Carnegie Police Chief Jeffrey Harbin said there have been no complaints or incidents involving residents at the house except for the automobile accident.

Mr. Heinrich expressed concern for the Beechwood Avenue families who have complained that Carnegie Towers, which is across the street, has adversely affected their neighborhood.

"It's not like those people [on Beechwood Avenue] haven't gone through enough," said Mr. Heinrich late last week. "There are way too many unanswered questions on this."