Residents of Norma Triangle in West Hollywood are crying foul for not being notified in advance of a drug treatment center, equipped with living units, that moved into their neighborhood and opened its doors four weeks ago.

The Klean Treatment Center occupies about half of the units of the former San Vicente Inn Bed & Breakfast at 840-854½ Hilldale.

One of the center’s features is its offering of residential units for up to 27 drug addicts and alcoholics as they progress through rehabilitation programs, according to Klean’s Web site.

Two people are currently being treated at the facility, said Klean Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Andrew Spanswick.

Residents like Judson Greene say they were never given word about the program, one he believes will deteriorate property values in the area.

“Certainly there were no hearings,“ he said. “It’s patently unfair. For most of us, this is our nest egg.”

Greene contends that the entire matter is a “huge failure of process.”

But that’s not what Klean’s administrators believe, they said that what they are trying to accomplish — owning and operating a residential care facility — is backed by state and federal law.

For example, according to California Health and Safety Code Section 1566.3: “Licensed residential health facilities with six or fewer persons and congregate care facilities are considered residential use of property; residents and operators are considered a family for zoning purposes.”

And that’s six people per structure, of which Klean is managing ten.

It’s also that number that makes the biggest difference, because exceeding it would require Klean to obtain a conditional use permit from City Hall, according to the City of West Hollywood’s Web site.

There is no code or zoning ordinance on record as long that limit is not surpassed, resulting in no need for a City Council vote or a public hearing.

In addition, Klean is working on obtaining a license from the state’s department of Alcohol and Drug Programs in order to become a fully-licensed residential care facility, said Operations Director Darryl Booth.

But that doesn’t mean city officials are not looking into situation.

Community Development Director Anne McIntosh said she and other city officials are engaged in a dialogue with Klean that continued this week to ensure everything is in order.

“We have a process that we need to follow,” she told The Independent. “It all starts with getting information. … We’re getting information from them so we can look at this and see what next steps are.”

Councilman Jeffrey Prang said he wants to keep residents in the loop, and offered his own thoughts on the rehabilitation center.

“If there are plans to expand, I will have some serious reservations about that,” he said.

Spanswick, Klean’s CEO, said he wants to meet with neighbors to address their grievances. He has extended an invitation to set up a meeting on Jan. 2.

He has not yet received a response, he said.

“There seems to be a lot of fear and pre-judgment about what we’re doing without really addressing it with us first,” he told The Independent, adding: “We’re actually bringing good quality services to the community. I was rather upset that people seemed to be villifying me for being a social worker.”

On the other hand, Greene and a few of his other neighbors are trying to schedule a meeting with city officials on Dec. 27 to be able to voice to formally voice their concerns.

Spanswick has been involved in social services throughout his career, and has headed Wonderland, a Laurel Canyon-based rehab center similar to Klean.

Biographical information of Spanswick, Booth, and other specialists and doctors that work at Klean is listed on the center’s Web site.

But some neighbors say they still do not have a good idea of who their newest neighbors are.

Resident Frances Diaz said there should be communication between locals and Spanswick prior to the Jan. 2 date, especially when it comes to knowing if Wonderland, located in a residential area, was a success without adversely affecting those living nearby.

“We’d like to know the nature of their alleged experience beforehand,” she said “I think it’s only fair.”