On the April 15th agenda of Conshohocken’s Zoning Hearing Board is an application involving a proposed group home at 447 West 6th Avenue. This is the second zoning application involving a group home in Conshohocken this year. The other, for the home at 333 West 7th Avenue, has had a previous hearing that was continued to April 15th. The applicants are Derek and Makenzie Dalmolin for the property on 6th Avenue and David Brosso for 7th Avenue.

The notice for the application involving West 6th Avenue states:

The petitioner is seeking a Special Exception pursuant to Section §27-823 and a Variance from Section §27-823.B to permit a group home use within the BR-1 – Borough Residential District 1; and to permit the required two (2) off-street parking spaces for the group home use to be located in the front yard of the group home, whereas no off-street parking spaces shall be located in the area between the front wall of the principal structure and the curb of the street toward which that wall is oriented.

Conshohocken’s zoning code defines group home as follows:

A residential facility used as living quarters by any number of unrelated persons requiring special care, and their attendant adult supervisors, specifically designed to create a residential setting for the mentally and physically handicapped (as a permitted use), or for other similar uses (as a special exception). The individuals may be either transient or permanent residents. Any number of handicapped persons, as defined in Title VIII of the Civil Rights Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of 1988, have the right to occupy a dwelling unit in the same manner and to the same extent as any family unit.

The code further states that group homes are permitted within the BR1, BR2, and RO (Residential Office) zoning districts by special exception (which can only be granted by the zoning heard board) with the following stipulations:

• In place of the off-street parking requirements for residential units, all group homes shall have one off-street parking space for each resident staff member. Also, one off-street parking space shall be provided for every five handicapped residents.
• No off-street parking spaces shall be located in the area between the front wall of the principal structure and the curb of the street toward which that wall is oriented.
• All group homes will conform to the type and outward appearance of the residences in the area in which they are located. This provision shall in no way restrict the installation of any ramp or other special features required to serve handicapped residents.
• Any medical or counseling services provided shall be done only for the residents of the group home.

Both properties fall within the BR-1 zoning district and are seeking a variance involving the parking requirements.

More to come.