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244 <br /> <br />The public hearing was opened. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norman Morris, 1621 Center Avenue and a.member of <br />the neighborhood advisory committee working with the AIDS <br />Support Group stated that the following questions regarding <br />the proposed development of the group home remained <br />unanswered: 1) where will water runoff go? 2) what studies <br />have been done regarding possible devaluation of existing <br />surrounding properties? and 3) how will patients be <br />admitted and how will the home be operated? Mr. Morris <br />stated that the property is one of the last green areas in <br />the neighborhood and recommended that the property be either <br />left vacant or made into a park. <br /> <br /> Mr. Peter Ryan, 219 Shamrock Road, listed the following <br />objections to the group home: the need is greater than the <br />proposed development will meet; the Shamrock Road area has <br />been neglected by the City and the Council should balance the <br />needs and rights of the AIDS patients with those of the <br />neighbors; the road is too narrow for the level of traffic <br />and the proposed location for the group home is on a bad <br />curve; the woods will be lost; and the group home residents <br />will use ambulances which would be inappropriate for the <br />neighborhood. Mr. Ryan stated that he felt a more rational <br />approach would be to use something similar to the Blue Ridge <br />Hospital to house AIDS patients. <br /> <br /> Ms. Lisa Thomas~ 127 Georgetown Green, stated that she <br />is HIV positive and supports the AIDS group home, noting that <br />if she was not able to live with her mother she would have no <br />where to live since she is not able to work and is unable to <br />support herself. Ms. Thomas noted that she has never had to <br />use an ambulance since she has been diagnosed as HIV <br />positive. <br /> <br /> Ms. Emily Dreyfus, Director of the AiDS Support Group <br />(ASG), stated that the ASG is looking to provide the best <br />housing possible to meet the critical need that exists in the <br />community and requested that the Council: 1) reduce the cost <br />of the land; 2) extend the option agreement; and 3) grant a <br />tax exemption, adding that this request is required by HUD to <br />be made° Ms. Dreyfus stated that a survey conducted of <br />localities having group homes housing AIDS patients showed <br />that property value can actually increase in value as a <br />result of the group home. <br /> <br /> Mr. Mark Spicer, 224 Shamrock Road, opposed the group <br />home for the following reasons: it is not the best use of <br />the land; it will increase the already high level of traffic, <br />it will increase drainage problems; land values will decrease <br />and it is not a use for which the City originally purchased <br />the property. Mr~ Spicer requested that the City study the <br />matter further. <br /> <br /> Mr. David Spicer, co-owner of 224 Shamrock Road, opposed <br />the group home for the following reasons: the property was <br />designated for recreational use in the Comprehensive Plan; <br />the property values for surrounding properties could~jactually <br />increase as a result of the development; traffic is a <br />problem; and more information is needed regarding the <br />project's budget. <br /> <br /> Mr. Toscano asked Mr. David Spicer which lots he felt <br />would be preferable for the group home should CounCil decide <br />that the site is appropriate for the group home and if the <br />Spicer family would be interested in purchasing the vacant <br />lot between their home and the group home. <br /> <br /> Mr. Spicer replied that he felt the higher elevation <br />would be less noticeable and his family might be interested <br />in an option to purchase the property. <br /> <br /> Ms. Nancy Long, architect for the AIDS Support Group, <br />explained that the City's Traffic Engineer had recommended <br /> <br /> <br />