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Shelby-Utica News (MI) Still hoping Ministry denied rezoning KRISTYNE E. DEMSKE Published: July 16, 2008
Members said they have worked in the past with people who are homeless or have been through drug or alcohol rehabilitation but don't know how to get on with their lives afterward. The home would house four men and a supervisor from the organization, who would be on hand 24/7. The men would be responsible for chores, working and ministering in the community.But the plan faced resistance at the Planning Commission, which voted to recommend denial of the request, stating that rezoning the property for multiple-family use is not consistent with the surrounding area or the goals of the master plan. In addressing some of the concerns from residents and planning commissioners at the July 8 City Council meeting, James Lanctot of Washington Township said A Place of Hope would not be a detoxification center or tolerate any use of drugs or alcohol. Moreover, residents would stay at the facility from 12-18 months and may not necessarily have been homeless or have had a criminal past. He said Utica officials had gotten the wrong impression of their planned ministry."In reality, it will remain a single-family home," he said. "We will not be adding to the existing structure or dividing it. (It will be) four people in a four-bedroom home. "Our family of four Christian brothers is smaller in size than many traditional families already in Utica."He said he believes that part of Utica's own definition of a single family - a collective body of persons doing their own cooking and living together upon the premises - fits what they want to do. "We believe we are a family. We live together, eat together, pray together," he said. "We provide a caring Christian home for people who may not have had the opportunity to grow up in one."A Place of Hope proponents also say the city would be better off having a well-maintained home than one that could slip into foreclosure. "The home that we are looking at has been on the market for close to three years and is close to foreclosure," he said of the house. "The homeowner is unable to clean the house. We, and our church, have worked hard to clean up the property.When we take possession of the house, it will be maintained much better than it is today." But John Ambrose, the city planner, said he was just going by what the group had stated as its intentions when the plan was first brought before the council in March.And, he said, how the group intends to use it doesn't matter much any way, it's the zoning classification for multiple-family use that counts. "It's the fact that if you zone the (property), in this case, to the multiple-family designation you're setting a precedent where this could happen anywhere else in the city," Ambrose said. "That's the danger when you deal with a spot zoning issue."He said the area is currently zoned and planned for single family residential and is surrounded by like properties. Even a nearby church is allowed in a single-family residential area with a special land use permit. In addition, he said he and City Attorney William McGrail had a meeting where they discussed all possible ways this ministry could move into the property, and the only way they saw to do it was the rezoning of the property, which they did not think could go through."That particular use could only be allowed in a multiple-family use," he said. Mayor Jacqueline Noonan, who abstained from voting at the Planning Commission level on the issue so that she could vote at the July 8 City Council meeting, said it was a hard decision to make to say no."I think that a lot of the issues that have been discussed are extremely emotional and extremely difficult. It is not easy reaching decisions on spot zoning," she said. "It certainly would have been easier had you chosen a location that was zoned appropriately for this use. "None of us find your mission to be anything but admirable." City Council members agreed."I, personally, don't have anything against your group. I think it's very noble," Councilman Kenneth Sikora said. "I'm always leery of things that set precedent." In addition, Mayor Pro Tem Russell Barthelmeh said many nearby residents were against the plan, while most of the group's support came from outside the city."Based upon that, it's very hard for us not to go against the zoning, but the neighbors as well," he said. "I hope we can separate the idea of their concept from the rezoning multiple housing in a single housing area," Councilman William Osladil said. "I think your concept is great."Nevertheless, Noonan said Utica could set itself up for a host of problems if it agreed to the rezoning. "The biggest jeopardy for a community in a spot rezoning is that it runs with the land," she said. Lanctot said council members needed to think more about the community's intentions."The easiest thing at this point is to follow the letter of the law," he said. "In terms of the intent of the law, we think we follow a lot of the things." But council disagreed, voting unanimously to deny the request for rezoning. Councilman Jerry Baker was absent."I have to look at the rezoning going with the property and whatever use it may be in the future," Osladil said. "I hope it's not construed as I'm against the concept." "I'm not completely surprised, I'm very disappointed," said A Place of Hope founding member Maria Kremer after the vote. But, she said, they're not giving up."We still fully intend to go forward with our ministry, and we just have to figure out what that is," she said. Kremer said the group had learned a lot from going through the process with the city."There's going to be 25 Places of Hope, not all in Utica," she said. You can reach Staff Writer Kristyne E. Demske at kdemske@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1041. Caption:C & G Staff Writer
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Last Updated: July 21, 2008 KMM |
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