WATERLOO - Heavy neighborhood opposition has derailed plans for a transitional home for homeless and substance-addicted women.

The Waterloo Board of Adjustment voted 4-0 Tuesday to reject a request for a special permit to establish the Angel House Women's Transitional Living Center at 517 Vermont St.

The vote followed a 90-minute public hearing that at times degenerated into name-calling and debates between speakers at the podium and those in the large audience, underscoring the depth of the opposition from surrounding homeowners. They also submitted a petition opposing the facility.

"In this neighborhood there is still pride of ownership, and they're here to defend that," said Dan Hillman, a real estate agent speaking on behalf of some neighbors. "Why take a chance of ruining a good neighborhood like this?"

The Planning, Programming and Zoning Commission had voted 7-1 earlier this month to support the special permit for what would have been a voluntary, supervised group home. Angel House would have housed 15 women coming out of addiction treatment or correctional facilities and looking to transition back into society; it would have been staffed 24 hours a day with supervisors.

"This is not going to be a flop house," said Julia Baldwin, Angel House executive director. "These are going to be very busy women. These women are there to learn to be productive members of the community."

Baldwin said participants would have been subject to frequent drug and alcohol screening and would have been required to be either holding jobs or searching for work. The Angel House board of directors included a number of professionals from social services and criminal justice groups in the community.

But many neighbors expressed concerns about whether supervision would be adequate, a perceived lack of parking and possible declines in their property values. Others worried the home would increase criminal activity.

"It's a fragile neighborhood where there's been increasing crime rates over the years," said neighbor Steve Kapler. "Drugs are a big problem."

Neighbors Mike and Anna Shower said nothing would convince them the Angel House was a proper fit for the neighborhood.

"What's the city going to do to protect us if this doesn't go well?" Anna Shower asked.

"Our property value will go down the tank," Mike Shower said. "There's no doubt in my mind that will happen."

Property owner Joel Harris, who now has three apartments in the house, said he felt the Angel House would be better for the neighborhood than some of his past tenants.

"I've had some tough tenants," said Harris. "Quite honestly, I'm looking forward to a little better tenant."

Board of Adjustment member Jon Mixdorf said the board turned down a similar request near the McKinstry Elementary School several years ago, again based on neighborhood opposition.

"We have such a large percentage of neighbors opposing this," he said.

Contact Tim Jamison at (319) 291-1577 or tim.jamison@wcfcourier.com.