(a) Application of Section. This section shall apply to the location, operation and maintenance of spouse abuse shelters, aka "friendly houses."
(b) Purpose; Intent. It is the purpose of this section to regulate the location, operation and maintenance of spouse abuse shelters in order to promote the public health, safety and general welfare. It is the intent of this section to provide for the assimilation of these facilities into stable and suitable neighborhoods, with proper provision for the health and safety of the inhabitants and without adverse impact on the neighborhood.
(c) Conditional Use Permit Required; Other Requirements. In some zoning districts, spouse abuse shelters may be established, operated and maintained on any premises when they are authorized by the issuance of a conditional use permit in accordance with the other requirements of this Planning and Zoning Code, particularly the provisions of Chapter 1254, and when such facilities comply with the following criteria:
(1) The proposed facility meets with local fire, safety, health and other requirements for the proposed use and level of occupancy, as attested by appropriate officials.
(2) The exterior of all such facilities shall not be altered in character, but shall be compatible with other neighborhood structures. However, any improvement required by these Codified Ordinances shall not be deemed incompatible, except that the design and appearance of such improvement shall be acceptable to the Zoning Administrator.
(3) The facility shall contain no more than six sleeping rooms. Each such room shall contain at least seventy square feet of floor space. Every sleeping room used by more than one person shall contain at least fifty square feet of floor space for each occupant thereof.
(4) No more than two adults shall occupy each sleeping room. Children of the adults are permitted in the same occupancy, provided that no more than five persons occupy the same room.
(5) At least one flush-type water closet, lavatory basin and bathtub or shower, properly connected to a water and sewer system approved by the Health Commissioner and in good working condition shall be supplied for each eight persons or fraction thereof residing within a spouse abuse shelter. All such facilities shall be located within the dwelling so as to be reasonably accessible from a common hall or passageway to all persons sharing such facilities. Every lavatory basin and bathtub or shower shall be supplied with hot water at all times.
(6) No facility containing two or more sleeping rooms shall have such room arrangements so that access to a bathroom or water closet compartment intended for use by occupants of more than one sleeping room can be had only by going through another sleeping room; nor shall room arrangements be such that access to a sleeping room can be had only by going through another sleeping room or a bathroom or water closet compartment.
(7) The facility shall have a security system with direct connection to the Fire and Police Departments.
(8) The facility shall have a supervisor in attendance twenty-four hours per day. The supervisor shall be responsible for the safety and security of the inhabitants and for maintaining the facility in a sanitary condition.
(9) The facility shall include a recreational area for children. This area shall be protected with a security fence and shall contain playground equipment.
(10) The maximum uninterrupted stay in the facility by an individual shall be thirty days.
(Ord. 192-95. Passed 9-21-95.)