Planning Commission backs zoning changes to define group homes and ban boarding houses

The Planning Commission unanimously approved a resolution on May 7 recommending City Council adopt a city-initiated zoning code amendment to Title 9 addressing group homes, residential care facilities and boarding houses.

Jennifer Mansour, a staff planner, told the commission the amendment adds three new definitions — group home, integral facility and sober living home — and modifies definitions for boarding house and residential care facility. Mansour said the group-home definition is broad, covering both state-licensed residential care facilities (such as elderly-care or licensed treatment facilities) and non-licensed supportive residences like sober-living homes. The revision would narrow the term "residential care facility" to cover only state-licensed facilities.

Mansour said the amendment updates permitted and prohibited uses across residential zoning districts; for example, the R-1 zone would explicitly prohibit boarding houses and integral facilities to facilitate public understanding and code enforcement. She noted a future ordinance amending Title 5 will establish a permitting process and could include buffer distances, such as a possible 650-foot sober-living buffer that would be considered in the municipal-code ordinance taken to City Council.

Commissioners asked whether sober-living homes already exist within the city, how code enforcement would regulate prohibited boarding houses, and how buffers would be applied; Mansour and staff said code enforcement would administer prohibitions and that Title 5 will address permitting and potential buffers before City Council consideration.

A motion to recommend council approval passed unanimously. The item will proceed to City Council with the revised draft resolution and a separate municipal-code ordinance addressing the Title 5 permitting process.