McDONOUGH An ongoing debate regarding standards for personal care homes in Henry County will soon come to a head.

The Board of Commissioners is set to vote Tuesday on proposed recommendations for such facilities.

Cheri Hobson-Matthews, Planning and Zoning director, said discussions stemmed from a moratorium adopted by commissioners in March.

As a result of that moratorium, the staff was charged with going back and revisiting provisions in our code as it pertains to personal care homes in residential zoning districts, she said.

Planning and Zoning staffers examined personal care home ordinances in neighboring jurisdictions to determine whether changes were needed in Henry. The ordinance regulates the development and standards of personal care homes within unincorporated portions of the county.

We were originally recommending that a conditional-use permit be required, said Hobson-Matthews. She added that the ordinance requires a hearing before the countys zoning advisory board in order to approve a personal care home in a residential zoning district.

A series of public meetings revealed opposition to restrictions on personal care home applicants, particularly from the special needs community in Henry.

Approximately 100 people attended a recent town-hall meeting on personal-care homes in Henry. They were sharply divided between on the issue of putting them in subdivisions.

That meeting followed a personal care home application submitted in January by Jeff Boyd, in Stockbridges Cottonfields subdivision.

Boyd said he began the endeavor while taking care of his elderly parents. His supporters said tighter restrictions on personal-care homes would make it difficult for special-needs individuals to receive care.

Originally posted here:
Commission poised to vote on personal-care homes