Politics & Government

Greenlea Group Home Controversy Spurs Crescent to Alter Ordinances

The zoning ordinance amendment will only affect group care facilities.

s took the initial steps yesterday to amend its zoning ordinances in response to the opening of a controversial group home in Moon.

The amendment will require group care facilities in Crescent to maintain 24-hour supervision for their occupants.

Board President Bill Cook said the amendment is a direct result of a group residence that opened last month on Greenlea Drive in Moon.

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

The home, which houses residents with mental illness who live independently, opened after months of contention from neighbors who said the home's occupants will pose a safety risk if left unsupervised.

Transitional Services Inc., a Homestead-based mental health care provider, purchased the home in October and monitors the residents periodically.

Find out what's happening in Robinson-Moonwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"Under state and federal law we cannot discriminate, but this will give us some guidelines so we won't find ourselves in the same situation," Cook said.

The Crescent amendment change will only affect properties used as in-patient care facilities. The home in Moon, however, is zoned as a group residence, not a group care facility. Moon officials have stated that the Federal Fair Housing Act prevents the township from placing restrictions on the home.

The board will submit its amendment to the Planning Division of Allegheny County Economic Development for review. Township Manager Patience Eckhardt said the township will conduct a public hearing regarding the ordinance change. After the public hearing, the board may vote on the amendment.


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