Neighbors from one of the city’s east side subdivisions crammed into the Council Chambers of City Hall Tuesday night to express their concerns with a second Pathfinder Home locating in their neighborhood.
Alan Janmsa asked the Plymouth Plan Commission if the zoning ordinance was being correctly administered as it pertains to the recent notification that Pathfinders purchased a home in McQueen’s Addition on Greenlawn Drive.
Local attorney Rick Huff addressed the board on behalf of many neighbors and questioned whether residents in the home would be disabled or mentally ill. He asked for information on the residents that are currently living in the “supported living” home on Sunnyside Drive and wanted to know why there was a concentration of living assisted homes in the 60 single family residential neighborhood. He also asked if the homes met state standards and if inspections were done.
Neighbors to the new supported living home, Ken and Marge Stiles said they were only notified about a week and a half ago by Pathfinders real estate they purchased the home next door. There was a great deal of concern and questions and discussions with other neighbors revealed more. Some of the concerns were not just for the neighbors but for the residents that would live in the current and proposed home.
A representative from Pathfinders told the overflowing crowd that they have offered residential living in the Plymouth community since the late 80’s. Their projects started as group homes but have since changed to supportive living homes which are smaller occupancy with a limit of 4. He also said the residents have 24 hour care by shift workers.
Ralph Booker, Planning Consultant handed members of the Plan Commissioner copies of Indiana Code which basically says in short order that residential facilities for individuals with disabilities or mental illness can not be prohibited from living in residential communities through zoning. As long as they meet the zoning requirements and developmental standards the Plan Commission has no say in the whether the facility should be in a neighborhood or not.
After an hour of discussion, Plan Commission President Doug Feece said, “This board can’t do anything about this.” He continued, “The discussion is between the neighbors and Pathfinders.”
