Spring Hill council approves conditional use permit for small congregate-care home at 414 S. Jefferson

The Spring Hill City Council on the evening’s meeting approved ordinance 2025-03, authorizing conditional use permit CU-24-2 to permit a congregate-care/retirement home at 414 South Jefferson Street.

Neighbors who live adjacent to the property objected during the public-comment portion, citing traffic, parking, lighting and property-value concerns; several asked the council to deny the CUP. "I live across the street … I participated in the protest petition," said resident Thomas Robinson, who said neighbors had gone door to door and believed a majority near the site opposed the use. Another nearby resident, Jack Wagner, told the council: "There's not a single person in this neighborhood that is for having an assisted living facility in our neighborhood" and raised worries about vehicles, deliveries and 24-hour staffing.

City planning staff told the council the Planning Commission recommended approval. "The Planning Commission reviewed this at their regularly scheduled meeting and there was a 7‑0‑1 recommendation to approve the CUP," said Planning Department representative Pat Burton. Burton said the site plan anticipates 4–6 residents (the home would be allowed up to 10–12 under state rules) and that the facility would be inspected by the state and the fire marshal; building-permit requirements would address alarms, handicap access and possible fire suppression systems. He also said the 14‑day protest period produced a valid petition that raised the legal threshold for approval to a supermajority.

An applicant representative, Jasmine George, described the proposed operation as a "home plus" model and said the plan was to limit occupancy to about six residents and provide one staff during the day and one at night. "It is not a hospice facility," George said, adding that residents would be largely "functional but still need some minimal assistance."

Council members questioned staff about inspections and conditions. Staff said the city will review approved CUPs at least annually, and that fire and building inspections and spot checks would occur. "We will look at it annually," Burton said; "the fire department does annually and spot checking on these. And then if there are excessive calls, then they will address that."

Motion and vote: A motion to approve ordinance 2025-03 (CUP CU‑24‑2, 414 South Jefferson Street) passed on roll call, 6‑0. The council noted the petition validation required a three‑fourths vote to override and staff confirmed the petition met the statutory thresholds.

Why it matters: The council’s approval establishes the first CUP of this type for a residential property in Spring Hill under the city’s current process and signals how the city will regulate similar residential congregate‑care homes going forward — by site plan conditions, building‑permit requirements and annual reviews.

The council also barred exterior signage and additional flood‑style exterior lighting in the CUP conditions, and staff said any change in ownership or operator would require review of compliance and findings before continuing the use under the permit.

The city clerk announced the ordinance passed 6‑0 in the meeting record.