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M <br />3) Require that a group home must be reevaluated for an <br />administrative permit or special exception approval <br />with any change in resident type or capacity increase <br />which would raise the level of the group home. <br />At that time, the Board discussed whether or not these <br />regulations were the most appropriate way to regulate the <br />number of individuals living together or if a more appropriate <br />way would be through a minimum square footage per person <br />standard. Based on this discussion, the Board directed the <br />staff to evaluate raising the minimum dwelling space per <br />person*.requirement. <br />On February 27, 1986, the Planning and Zoning Commission voted <br />5 -to -0 to concur with the Planning Department's recommendation <br />that no further changes are necessary. <br />ALTERNATIVES AND ANALYSIS <br />Currently, the Standard. Housing Code sets a minimum square <br />footage requirement of 150 square feet for the first occupant <br />'and an additional 100 square feet for each additional occupant. <br />The purpose' of the housing code is to protect the health and <br />safety of a structure's occupants. These floor area <br />requirements were reviewed with the Director of the County <br />Building Division who recommended that the County not adopt <br />stricter standards. The reason given by the Building Division <br />Director was the fact that a stricter dwelling space <br />requirement cannot be justified in terms of health and safety <br />standards. For the same reason, the 'County Attorney's staff <br />concurred .that a stricter dwelling space standard would be <br />difficult to uphold. In addition, staff found no other <br />jurisdictions having minimum dwelling space requirements <br />stricter than the Standard Housing Code. <br />The County does, however, have more restrictive minimum <br />dwelling space requirements than the Standard Housing Code for <br />group homes. These requirements are included in the criteria <br />for group homes in Section 25.1, "Regulations for Specific Land <br />Uses" of the zoning ordinance. The purpose of the zoning <br />ordinance is to protect the health, safety, morals, and general <br />welfare of the public. In addition, the zoning code also has <br />the purpose of maintaining the single-family character of <br />certain areas and the protection of property values. Due to <br />the fact that the zoning code has a broader purpose than the <br />housing code, stricter requirements can be justified for <br />specific uses such as group homes. The County's requirements <br />for group homes are the same standards used by HRS for permits. <br />These dwelling space requirements are outlined below: <br />1) A minimum of 200 square feet of interior living space <br />shall be provided per resident. <br />2) A minimum of 80 square feet shall be provided in each <br />bedroom for single occupancy. A minimum of 60 <br />square feet of sleeping space shall be provided for <br />each resident for multiple occupancy. <br />3) A full bathroom shall be provided for every five (5) <br />residents. An additional toilet and sink shall be <br />provided for each additional group of four persons (4) <br />or less. <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />For the reasons stated above, the staff feels that it would be <br />difficult to require a higher square footage per person <br />requirement than that currently required by the Standard <br />Housing Code. Staff also feels that the County has adequate and <br />appropriate regulations in place and that no further changes <br />are necessary. <br />7 <br />BOOK 64 PAGE 407 <br />