GAINESVILLE - Gainesville City Council Tuesday night approved a special use request in a residential area for a new group home to house recovering substance abusers.
Developer Chris Cooley said he went on a land hunt to locate the new Turning Point home to house 24 men; he could not find any suitable property in the permitted General Business zoning for group homes.
"Most of the GB zoning around Gainesville seemed to be the main corridors coming into Gainesville that were, in our opinion, better suited for shopping centers and retail," Cooley said.
Council approved Cooley's request 4-1 over objections from landowners who did not feel Erskin Avenue was a suitable group home location.
Homeowner Sheri Campbell objected, saying a home with 24 men behind her Holland Avenue residence made her feel insecure and would create traffic problems.
"We don't feel like we could be safe and the street could not handle the extra traffic through it," Campbell said.
Councilman Bob Hamrick cast the opposing vote.
Thursday
October 17th, 2024
7:29AM
