2002-19 REZONING PROPERTY - 3500 BLOCK OF NORTH CHARLES STREET

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Decatur City Plan Commission Apri14, 2002 Page Thirteen ii Resident Manager. A fourth building would have a community room, recreational, social, mail and laundry facilities as well as an office for the manager. This is not a treatment center. The development would allow for the residents to be checked on without being intrusive. The group home would have a 24 hour staff. Mr. Wilkinson stated that there would be a line of shrubs on Charles Street. The project faces inward. He stated that the development would be good for the clients and adds to the community. There would be a sewer line on the north border and then taken south. The entrance to the property will have a grade change to allow water to flow faster. There would not be much additional traffic and the clients usually do not have vehicles. There would be vans to transfer the residents to treatment. The design is to move people in groups and reinforces a sense of community. Mr. Wilkinson stated that the project is time sensitive as they must have control over the property per HUD so that Phases II and III happen in May. Mrs. Sands asked if the development would look like the picture that the Commission had. Mr. Wilkinson stated that the picture was computer generated and the trees are exaggerated. The units on Wagoner and Warren are very similar to those pictured and will be vinyl sided with bay windows. The development will not look institutional. There were objectors present: Ms. Ellen Massey, 3592 North Charles, was present and spoke against the petition stating that she lives across the street from the subject property. Ms. Massey stated that this is a residential area and not the proper place for the proposed development. She thanked Mrs. Sands for her comment regarding the road. Ms. Massey stated that there are no sidewalks, 16 school buses make daily trips on Charles Street and it is impossible to back out of the driveways at times. She stated that there would be more traffic if the vans were bringing the residents back and forth. She stated she has lived in her home for 38 years and the house is 40 years old. Ms. Massey stated that she was told it would cost at least $7,000 to connect to the sewer and she stated that she would never get that money back if the property were sold. Ms. Massey presented a petition of objection signed by the area residents. Ms. Sue Lake, 3570 North Charles was present and spoke against the petition stating that several of the neighbors were present and appreciated the opportunity to address the Commission. Ms. Lake asked if the Commission members would want this development across the street from their homes and around their children. She stated that the clients could not be kept out of the area's businesses and they weren't wanted in people's yards. Ms. Lake stated that she was told she would never see sewer in that area and there were not enough people to warrant it. Now HUD decides on this property and there will be sewer. She stated that if they had been working