Public hearing opened on zoning text amendment to allow assisted living facilities of 9–16 beds; record left open to April 4

Kent County commissioners opened a public hearing on Code Home Rule Bill 1-2025, a proposed text amendment to the county land-use code that would add assisted living facilities with 9–16 beds as a land use in several residential zoning districts.

Rob Tracy of the Department of Planning and Zoning testified in support, saying the bill "would increase the assisted living facility bed capacity from 8 to 16 in the critical area residential and community residential zoning districts" and that the planning commission reviewed the amendment and sent a favorable recommendation. Tracy said the planning commission added nine review criteria that would be added to the Board of Appeals’ review.

The clerk read the published notice into the record and the board allowed the meeting to serve as the public hearing. Commissioners voted to open the hearing; the board then left the written record open until the close of business on Friday, April 4 to allow additional submissions.

Why it matters: the amendment would alter where assisted living facilities of 9–16 beds can be permitted and add conditions and review criteria; Tracy told the commissioners the zoning change responds to the county’s aging population and referenced the land-use ordinance’s demographic projection.

What happened next: commissioners voted to close the public hearing at the same meeting and to keep the record open through April 4. No members of the public signed in to testify other than staff; the planning staff indicated they would be available to answer follow-up questions.

Provenance: Notice and the bill description were read into the record (s≈261–404). Rob Tracy’s testimony and the planning commission recommendation appear at s≈477–574. Motions to open and close the public hearing and the record‑open instruction are recorded at s≈449–624.