Special Exception - 1425 Clayton Drive

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NEMETH, FEENEY ~ MASTERS, P. C. ATTORNEYS AT LAW The Common Council of the City of South Bend May 30, 2007 Page Two Approval of Chiara Home's request to use the property at 1425 Clayton Drive, South Bend, Indiana 46614 as a Special Exception in an SF-1 Single Family Residence District as a residential care facility meets the standards for a Special Exception at I.C. 36-7-918.4 in the following respects: 1. The proposed use will not be injurious to the public health, safety, comfort, community moral standards, convenience or general welfare. Chiara Home has been providing quality respite care services to families caring for an individual with a developmental disability or other special need at its current location on West Jefferson Boulevard in South Bend since 1993. Chiara Home looks forward to moving to this residence so that it can expand its services and continue to provide quality respite care services to families in the South Bend area. 2. The proposed use will not injure or adversely affect the use of the adjacent area or property values therein. The property at 1425 Clayton Drive, South Bend had been used as a residential "group home" for persons with developmental disabilities from 1989 to approximately two years ago. Since that time, the property has been vacant. Chiara Home's use will eliminate a vacant house in the City. The house has been designed to be used by persons with disabilities. There is a handicapped access ramp into the house and a handicapped access ramp from the garage into the house. There are ramps over the doorways to accommodate wheel chairs. There is a large handicapped accessible bathroom. The doorways and hallways are extra-wide to accommodate wheelchairs. There are two first floor emergency exits. There is an interior fire sprinkler system. In fact, this house could not be used as a private residence without substantial modification. No modifications are anticipated that will change the residential character of the house. 3. The proposed use will be consistent with the character of the district in which it is located and the land uses authorized therein. Sr. Gretchen Clark will be the only permanent resident of the home. The propose use of the house as a residential care facility by Chiara Home is similar to a child care home in which the house is the principal residence of the person who operates the child care home, which is a permitted use in an SF-1 Single Family Residence District under Zoning Code Section 21.02.01(a)(2)(D). 4. The proposed use is compatible with the recommendations of the City of South Bend Comprehensive Plan. The proposed use is residential in character in a residential zoning district.