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170 <br /> <br />construction will create a drainage problem for her property. <br /> <br /> Mr. Gene Latter of Thomas Drive, stated that he felt <br />Council was making a decision on the issue too quickly. <br /> <br /> Mr. Pete Gal!et, 127 Rugby Road, stated that the group <br />home occupants are not~iikely to have cars, will have few <br />visitors and the City would not be spending City funds on the <br />project, and added that he felt the other concerns expressed <br />could be addressed. <br /> <br /> Ms. Joan Pappageorge, 107 David Terrace, stated that she <br />is a single parent and did not think the Shamrock Road <br />site was the proper location for such a facility. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jim Heilman, representing the Aids Support Group <br />(ASG), explained that other sites, including the Mountain <br />Wood facility and locations in the County, had been explored <br />but either did not meet the needs of ASG or HUD. Mr. Heilman <br />anticipated that there would, be no more than two cars on site <br />and stressed that the occupants of the group home must be <br />capable of independent~living and if they become too ill they <br />will be moved to a proper facility with the help of ASG. Mr. <br />Heilman stated that the need is greater than the proposed <br />group home can meet and other homes will need to be built in <br />the future, but large institutional facilities are not <br />desirable. <br /> <br /> Ms. Renee Martin, 701 Shamrock, spoke in opposition to <br />the group home. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jack Wilson of Johnson Village, stated that he <br />supported the group home but opposed the plan for the <br />following reasons: the Department of Community Development <br />has not been involved, there should be more time for study, <br />no public transportation is available on Shamrock Road, the <br />site is not large enough, access to Shamrock-Road will be <br />difficult for persons in wheelchairs, and AIDS is a public <br />health concern. <br /> <br /> Ms. Betty Siegner, a member-of the Planning Commission <br />and resident of the Fry's Spring neighborhood, stated that <br />Council has always considered the process and neighborhood <br />discussion prior to making property decisions but has not <br />done so in considering this issue and she, therefore, was <br />considering resigning from the Planning Commission. Ms. <br />Siegner read portions of a letter from Mr. Gib Akin, Chairman <br />of the Planning Commission, expressing opposition to the <br />process Council had followed for considering selling the <br />property for the group home, and concern that the Planning <br />Commission had not been involved. Ms. Siegner stated that <br />the special use process would not allow a study for what is <br />the best use of the site. Ms. Siegner continued that she <br />felt City land is placed in Council's trust and the community <br />should participate and study the best use for the site. Ms. <br />Siegner requested that Council develop a vision for the <br />community. <br /> <br /> Mr. Blake Caravati, a member of the Planning Commission, <br />stated that he felt a lot of the arguments against the group <br />home which have been expressed have been off base. Mr. <br />Caravati stated that perhaps a process should be considered <br />for dealing with the sale of City land, but noted that no <br />process currently exists and therefore there has been no need <br />for the Planning Commission.to be involved. Mr. Caravati <br />pointed out that the Planning Commission will be involved <br />during the special use permit process and he supported <br />approving the option to the property for the group home. <br /> <br /> Ms. Katherine Griffin of 4th Street, N.E., stated that <br />the HUD funds are a one-time grant and there is no indication <br />that such funding will be available in the future. <br /> <br /> <br />