(A) Purpose. The purpose of §§ 157.294 to 157.298 of this chapter is to promote the public health, safety and welfare by establishing standards relating to the development, location, and operation of community based residential social service facilities. These facilities may include a wide variety of living arrangements from private family living to family and group homes, foster care homes, halfway houses, and semi-institutional residential programs as herein defined and described. The city recognizes the concept of deinstitutionalization and realizes that social research apparently shows that such living arrangements improve the lives of various dependent populations and may facilitate their rehabilitation or reintegration into society. It is further recognized that such facilities can help a resident regain self-confidence and a feeling of self-worth and belonging by assisting the resident in adjusting to living with a developmental disability, an emotional or mental disorder, or other handicaps, including community perceived antisocial behavior, in lieu of or subsequent to placement within an institution. Such living arrangements also offer abused, neglected, or dependent children with a stable living environment, assist residents in recuperating from the effects of drugs or alcohol, help the elderly lead more productive lives, and assist juvenile and adult offenders to reintegrate into society upon release from a correctional program or diversion from such a program.
(B) Intent. It is the policy of the city to permit residential social service facilities within specified zoning districts under certain circumstances in order to assure their access to appropriate neighborhood environments but to regulate their location to prevent a clustering of such facilities which may create a de facto social service district containing a concentration of such facilities which can have a negative impact on neighborhoods and the city.
(Ord. 6-1993, passed 3-8-93)