80-51 AMENDING ZONING ORDINANCE SPECIAL USE REGULATIONS RESIDENTIAL CARE FACILITIES

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Page 9 - City Plan Commission - 4-3-80 Nir. Cusick said that this is the fourth time a meeting has been held regarding the subject petition. Mr. Bob 4�'ilkerson, of the Macon County Community Ment�l Health Board, was present. He said that he was respectfully requesting approval of his petition. He also had several people with him who woulc like to present testimony to the Coznmission relative to the petition. Dr. David Eraddock was present to speak. He said that in 1960 there were one million people living in institutions . Today there are about 400 , 000 , and that num5er is still declining. Dr. Braddock felt that a more progressive Zoning Ordinance would be beneficial to Decatur. He discussed both the legal and moral aspect of the proposed zoning laws . Dr. Braddock felt that at the most a few hundred people could be living ir. group homes if the proposal is accepted and passed. Illinois has by fax more accredited institutions than any state in the country. M�. Grossman asked Dr. Braddock if he was indicating that the present Zor�ing Ordinance is not legal , and Dr. Braddock said that he �id not think it was illegal , but he did question whether or not it could withstand a frontal attack. Mr . Keven Bre"sslin, attorney, was also present. He said that his agency supports and endorses the petition which is before the Board. He said that there would not be a negative , impact from the proposal ; some studies indicate that there could even be a positive impact. Mr. Galen Good, a representative of the Illinois Department of Mental Health, was also present. rie said that licensed and certified establish�nents are contin- ually checking facilities of the type that is prcposed. Mr. King said that it was his understanding that Illinois does not h�ve a licensing procedure for twelve homes or less . He under- stood that such a procedure would be in effect by July 1 , 1980 . Mr . Good indicated that Mr. King ` s statement was correct. Mr. Daniel Lauber, was also present. He is co-author of a report , ZoninQ for Famil�� and Group Care Facilities , March, 1974 . He discussed 'his report , which explains the minimum recommended standards for residential group care facilities . It is recommended tha� all facilities be licer.sed , not over- crowded, etc. He suggested that the facilities be city-con- trolled through the use of the Certificate of Occupancy. Mr. Cherches said that the present Certificate of Occupancy only indicates that the structure meets the requirements of the BOCA Basic Building Codes .