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Home My WebLink AboutMARTIN LUTHER HOME ADOLESCENT FACILITY - GROUP HOME REVIEW - 24-87A - - CORRESPONDENCE-NEIGHBORHOOD MEETINGDeveloont Services Planning Department Citv of Fort Collins The following are COMMENTS, QUESTIONS, and CONCERNS expressed at the neighborhood meeting for the Martin Luther Group Home at 2100 Eastwood Street in Fort Collins. This meeting was in response to a request by the applicant for a Group Home review to add an additional bed at this location. MEETING PLACE: Riffenburgh Elementary School MEETING DATE: May 16, 1990 MEETING TIME: 7:00 to 8:30 P.M. COMMENTS: 1. An adjacent neighbor has concerns about the care of the children and competency of the Home staff. 2. One child is let out of the home very early in the morning. This child has a very loud moan. Another child has strayed away from the Home on numerous occasions and has been found in the adjacent neighbor's garage and house. 3. There is a lot of turmoil surrounding this home. 4. Property upkeep has not been adequate. 5. People are concerned about the value of their property relative to the adjacent use. The neighbor next door bought their home in June 1987 without the knowledge that this use would be allowed. QUESTION: How many buses/vans come to home daily? ANSWER: 2 from Thompson Valley district, 1 from Poudre R-1 district. COMMENTS: 1. The bus will stand in front of the Home without blinker lights on and the stop sign out. This person speaking was cited by City Police on one occasion for passing the bus under these conditions. 2. The amount of buses and vans and the length of time they are present creates very much of an obstacle on Eastwood Drive. 3. The adjacent neighbor feels that it is impossible to gain privacy. She would like to see a taller fence or full hedge. RESPONSE: Plant material will take time to grow and fill in. '81 N. College Avenue • P.O. Box 580 • Fort Collins, CO S0522-0:;80 • (303) 221-6730 4. The adjacent family does not want Home staff people in their yard anymore. This neighbor is prepared to take legal action against the Home. 5. One female resident has had several uncontrollable outbreaks, known as headbanging. RESPONSE: She is no longer in the home. Currently there are all boys. QUESTION: What will be the use of the planned new room? ANSWER: A time-out room, control room. COMMENTS: 1. 1 am not saying that I don't want another child in your home. I want to see more involvement and control by your staff. 2. We are sorry to see that some parents do not want or can not keep their child in their own home. RESPONSE: Some parents, due to personal or work situations, don't have the ability/capability to keep them at home. QUESTION: What is the condition of the new child coming in? ANSWER: He is verbal, has behavioral problems, is ambulatory, and will explode periodically. COMMENTS: 1. There has been a case of indecent exposure by one of the Home residents, also foul and abusive language. This is frightening to the neighborhood children and is not acceptable. 2. There is real concern by the neighbors about the Home adding another child without increasing staff. QUESTION: Can the buses/vans pull up into the driveway to pick up/drop off the children? ANSWER: Drivers say they cannot do this. This is an issue that has to be discussed with the school districts. COMMENTS: 1. Buses are at the Home at the most inopportune times. They are in front of the home for a long period of time with lights flashing. This is by " far the biggest problem for this neighbor. RESPONSE: M.L. Home discussions with the school district(s) have been non -productive. 2. When the original request came thru in 1987 it was represented that the use would not disrupt the neighborhood. In fact, it does. 3. It seems that this was a pre -determined issue initially. We have no say in this matter. We are not being listened to. 4. We do want cooperation with the Home staff. Do not want resentment. 5. I do not want to have to put a lock on our back yard gate. 6. The original approval seemed to be an automatic decision because there was no reason to deny it. It appeared to be a "use -by -right". 7. Some of the residents of the Home are a problem, more staffing is needed. QUESTION: If this goes through, what will be your next request? ANSWER: None, based on State guidelines. QUESTION: What physical requirements determine the numbers in a home? What does an 8-bed home look like? ANSWER: An 8-bed home is usually a 4-5 bedroom house. QUESTION: You will be receiving additional funds with the new child. Why can you not obtain another staff person? ANSWER: We are currently in a deficit -spending situation with this home. COMMENTS: 1. I feel that I have no voice in this process. What can I do? Who can I call? RESPONSE: The City Planning staff does not make the final decision on requests of this nature. Once the request is made, the pro- posal goes through special review and approval by the Plan- ning and Zoning Board. A public hearing is required and all Affected Property Owners will be notified by mail of this meeting. At that time you will again have the opportunity to express your concerns. 2. I propose 4 conditions to make this use more acceptable. a) One (1) additional on -site parking space. b) An 8' wood fence around the back yard. c) A 2nd staff person at night, 3rd staff person during the day. d) A bus/van arrangement concerning the street parking/circulation conflict. 3. Eliminate the grass area to right of driveway and replace with gravel mulch and plant material. 4. The home is attractive and what has been done in the back play yard is nice. QUESTION: Could the lawn maintenance be improved? ANSWER: Yes, we can make that effort. COMMENTS: 1. Inexpensive lawn care crews can be hired. 2. We are not in opposition to the addition of one child as long as an attempt is made to improve the situation and make the neighborhood feel safe again. QUESTION: How long can a child stay at the Home? ANSWER: Until the age of 21. PROJECT: TYPE OF MEETING: DATE: NAME ADDRESS WRITTEN NOTIFICATION YES/NO 0WNE:t RENTER r 4 2/0 f - ' O v d Vic.. -i . S C�Qnef% �ee.✓e.s ��/a. Cav�Cuooc,l ��" _ 4Je,S `� (,O�6 Do weoc C4 i ye I ✓� I I J o C AAAIC o 0 /zt_