Commission denies special-exception request for group home at 3120 Blackman Court

The commission approved the planning department recommendation to deny a special-exception request to establish a four-person personal care group home at 3120 Blackman Court.

Henry Holton, program director for Sevita Healthcare, told the commission the provider operates multiple group homes in the area and cited protections in the Federal Fair Housing Act for people with disabilities. “Our mission is to help people stay in place in living safely and successfully within homes rather than in institutional settings,” Holton said.

Neighbors and community leaders testified in opposition, saying the residence sits in a long-established family neighborhood and arguing that the community character should be preserved. Octavia Collins, president of the Richmond County Neighborhood Association Alliance, told commissioners she stood with neighbors and urged denial. The commission approved the recommendation to deny the special exception in a recorded vote during the regular agenda.