HomeNewsBustleton votes no on personal care home

Bustleton votes no on personal care home

The Greater Bustleton Civic League last week soundly rejected a proposal to open a personal care home in a single-family home at 9504 Rising Sun Ave.

Attorney Henry Clinton knew he was in for an uphill fight.

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“We realize this is an ask,” he said.

The 3,330-square-foot space would provide nursing care to 10 residents, with two patients in each of the five bedrooms. The patients would be senior citizens who’ve been discharged from a hospital.

Clinton and owner Michael Oduro told the crowd that there would be an RN and LPN on site at all times, and a part-time cook would be on staff. Trash would be picked up by a commercial company.

Neighbors had a bunch of concerns, including a possible decline in property values and wildlife getting to the trash. They noted that two other care communities, Chapel Manor and Paul’s Run, are in the area, and that there are vacant properties in the neighborhood that could house a nursing facility. Oduro acknowledged he has no experience running a personal care home. Residents howled when the applicant’s architect said 30 vehicles could fit on site.

Clinton, sensing that members would never support the proposal, ended the discussion and asked civic president Jack O’Hara to call for a vote.

The vote was 84-1 against the proposal.

A hearing had been scheduled for Feb. 7 in front of the Zoning Board of Adjustment, but Clinton wrote a letter to the ZBA on Feb. 2 saying the application had been withdrawn. The owner is said to be planning to sell the house.

In other news from the Jan. 23 meeting:

• Lawyer Justin Krik gave a presentation seeking a variance for an office building at 248 Geiger Road that is home to some existing small personal services businesses. The legalization is needed because the property is zoned industrial.

The three-story building houses self-employed businesses that provide nail and hair care and massages. There are 22 units, with 25 parking spaces.

Krik will ask the zoning board for the variance based on the hardship that, post-COVID, there is less demand for office space and that the building is not suitable for industrial use.

Members approved the proposal, 25-20, with provisos.

• Capt. Steven O’Brien and community relations officer Joe Staszak represented the 7th Police District. O’Brien outlined crime stats from Dec. 23 to Jan. 21.

A domestic dispute on the 8800 block of Rising Sun Ave. led to a stolen car and an arrest. Two men with guns approached a man removing groceries from his car on the 1900 block of Reilly Road, but the gunmen fled before taking anything. An individual was stabbed in the chest during a robbery on the 8500 block of Bustleton Ave. A woman was arrested after stealing a car outside a house on the 9800 block of Wistaria St. Tools were stolen from a shed on the 2100 block of Stanwood St.

There were 23 thefts from autos, including from six vehicles that were left unlocked. There were 34 stolen autos, including 12 Hyundais and eight Kias.

The 7th district will be giving away 141 free steering wheel locks to Hyundai and Kia owners on Feb. 24 from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at its headquarters at 1701 Bowler St. 

• O’Hara, the civic president, sparred with Madonna Duffy, an aide to City Councilman Brian O’Neill, over whether the site of the proposed UPS sorting facility at 1 Red Lion Road is in Greater Bustleton’s territory. O’Hara put out an open invitation for O’Neill to attend an upcoming meeting. Greater Bustleton opposes the size of the proposed UPS operations.

• The Greater Bustleton Civic League will meet on Feb. 27 at 7 p.m. at American Heritage Credit Union, 2060 Red Lion Road. The guest speaker will be state Sen. Jim Dillon. ••

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