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Commission recommends fair-housing text changes; increases distancing and limits group home size
Summary
The commission recommended a text amendment to align Covington’s code with federal fair-housing standards, tighten siting distances for group homes to 4,000 feet, reduce allowable residents in small and large group homes, and clarify licensing and exclusions.
The Covington Planning and Zoning Commission voted to recommend a text amendment to the city’s code to update definitions and standards related to fair housing, group homes and rehabilitative care centers.
Alex Carter of Desire Alliance, the consultant presenting the draft, told the commission the amendment is part of a phased land development code update implementing the city’s Comprehensive Plan (2030). Carter said the draft removes outdated language, aligns local definitions with federal and state standards, and addresses reasonable accommodations under the Americans with Disabilities Act (for example, permitting setbacks adjustments to install ADA-compliant ramps).
Key changes in the draft recommended by the commission include:
• Reducing the maximum occupants in a small group home to four and in a large group home to eight.
• Increasing the minimum separation between group homes or rehabilitative care centers from about 1,300 feet in the existing code to 4,000 feet (measured radially from lot lines).
• Requiring state licensure for therapeutic group homes and adult care providers and submission of the license with any application.
• Explicitly excluding registered sex offenders as occupants and clarifying that active users of alcohol or drugs who pose danger may be excluded.
• Adding definitions for protected classes and including neurodivergence as an example of a physical or mental impairment while clarifying the standards for qualifying as a disability under the code.
Carter said the changes aim to comply with federal fair-housing law while preventing an over-concentration of group homes that might alter neighborhood character. He said the draft is built on steering-committee input, community meetings and a code audit; the track-changes appendix in the packet shows insertions, deletions and relocations.
Public commenters included Dr. Peter Lewis, who described local mentoring and youth programming historically tied to the property around West 20th Avenue and urged approval, and Christie Paul Sell, who said she and her daughter rely on accessible housing in the city.
Commissioners asked about citywide application, enforcement for existing unpermitted homes and how licenses and uses would be distinguished from other residential or sober-living arrangements; staff and the consultant said the standards apply citywide and enforcement would bring noncompliant operations into permitting and licensing processes.
The commission carried a motion to recommend the text changes to the City Council. The roll-call vote recorded a majority in favor with one commissioner voting no.
Votes and formal outcome
• Motion to recommend approval of text study to amend Chapter 58 (Human Relations), Chapter 98 (Utilities) and Appendix B (Comprehensive Zoning Ordinance) related to fair housing, group homes and rehabilitative care centers (Case No. 25-08-01): recommended to council by roll call.
