2019-08 Ordinance Granting a Non-Conforming Use Permit to Re-Establish Transitional Housing Use Within the M-2 Heavy Industrial District at 2175 East Pershing Road Decatur Transitional Housing Complex (DTHC)

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Z' I3a� �} t PROJECT DESCRIPTION The petitianer is seeking a Non-Canfarming I3se Permit to re-establish this nan-canforming use of transitional housing within the M-2 Heavy Industrial District at 2175 East Pershing Road. The goal is to provide transitianal housing for a periad of three {3} to six {6} months ta �aw income adults that maybe just out-of-prison (non-violent and no sex offenders), homeless, or individuals that work with social services that need housing. VJhi1e living in this facility, tenants have an opportunity to attend classes in the Modular Trailer to develop life and wark skills. These classes include GED classes, financial empowerment,job fairs, and long-term housing seminars. The petitianer plans to hire four(4)full-time and five(S)part-time employees from interested residents to operate this facility, which wi11 have a ki#chen and dining area that wi11 be operated by a religiaus organization. STAFF ANALYSIS The petitioner has provided tharough records and dacumentatian fram various sources to demonstrate the history af this camplex for these types' residential uses.They include Decatur Tawnship Office, City of Decatur, Macon County, title company and the real estate brokers. Staff believes adequate proof has been submitted ta affirm continuous operatian af residential of some sort has existed within the existing zaning of M-2 Heavy Industrial District until abaut two years ago when the petitioner became the awner of the subject site. Since transitional hausing is not a permitted use within the M-2 District,the praposed use would be non-confarming. Thus, a Non-Conforming Use Permit is being requested to re-establish the prior use. The Non-Conforming Use Permit ta re-establish this non-confarming use of transitional housing is cansistent with the Macon County and Decatur Comprehensive Plan as it calls for Employrnent as a future land use, and DTHC will have a limited number of etnpioyees. "Transitional housing"is a use that is not specifically defined in the Zoning Ordinance and in its very nature implies temporary housing. The surrounding uses are single-family residences and a tavern across Highway 48/121 to the east, distribution center to the southwest, a liquor store to the northwest, and vehicle rental and sales to the north. Qpen space in front of the praperty provides a buffer from the highway traffic and noise. Although in the M-2 District, the abutting 1ic}uor store and distribution center are not high traffic generatars nor heavy manufacturing uses that rnay negatively irnpact the proposed transitional housing use. This area is designated for a combination af heavy commercial, employment and low-density residential as a future land use within the Macon County and Decatur Comprehensive Plan. STAFF RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends approval of the Nan-Conforming Use Permit with the foilowing conditions: