Planning commission denies conditional use for proposed youth group home near Rosa Parks Elementary

The Middletown Planning Commission on Oct. 8 denied a conditional-use permit for a proposed youth group home at a multibuilding property on the city’s South Side, voting 6-0 to reject the application.

The commission’s decision followed a public hearing in which the applicant, the police chief and commissioners debated whether the property’s location and scale would risk public-safety strain and undermine neighborhood revitalization efforts. The applicant said the operation would begin with one unit housing five youths and could grow to 16 residents, while maintaining 24-hour on-site supervision and state licensure steps.

Commissioners and the police chief said they were not opposed to the concept of a youth group home but concluded the specific site — within a few blocks of Rosa Parks Elementary School and near the river and local parks — was not a suitable location.

“...we’re trying to revitalize that the South Side Of Middletown. And is this conducive to revitalization? That’s ... I’m going to vote to deny,” Commissioner David Cash said before the vote.

Applicant’s description and licensing path

The applicant, identified in hearing testimony as Jonathan (last name not specified), said his organization operates two single-family group homes in Ohio (Dayton and Columbus) and is seeking to expand operations to the Middletown property under a new LLC, Behavioral Solutions LLC. He said the homes serve youths typically aged 13 to 18 with behavioral, mental-health or criminal-justice involvement who require stabilization before placement in foster care.

“We put teenagers in there that’s not qualified for foster home care. So we put them in this program until they get qualified to foster home,” the applicant said.

He described an intended rollout that would start with one unit (about five youths) and grow toward the property’s maximum of 16 residents subject to health-department and state licensing requirements. He said the state’s Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (referred to in testimony as the licensing authority) would review credentials and that some approvals are contingent on obtaining planning commission zoning approval first.

Staff and commission questions focused on staffing, building layout and licensing. Commissioners asked whether separate units with individual exterior entries would change zoning treatment; staff advised the commission that code does not alter requirements simply because units have separate entryways. The applicant said residents would be supervised on-site 24 hours a day and that the program would include a licensed therapist and a licensed nurse.

Public-safety and siting concerns

Middletown’s police chief, sworn in and speaking during the hearing, framed the issue as one of cumulative impact and public-safety burden. The chief said nearby group homes have required substantial police time and that some residents placed in local group homes originate from other counties and statewide, increasing calls for service.

“It does place a huge strain on much amount of time we spend there, at those houses,” the chief said, noting incidents involving nonresidents and the challenge of policing multiple facilities that bring high needs into the city.

Commissioners repeatedly cited proximity to the river, Route 4 and local recreational sites as risks for youths who might try to flee without supervision. Commissioner AJ Mintel and others said the site’s closeness to community amenities did not offset concerns because residents would be under 24-hour supervision and would not be able to use nearby parks without staff.

Regulatory and operational details discussed

- Capacity and staffing: The applicant said the property could hold up to 16 residents once fully staffed; the applicant planned to start with a single unit of about five youths. He said staff would be present 24 hours and that the operation would include a licensed therapist, a licensed nurse and a cook. The applicant acknowledged uncertainty about exact staff-to-resident ratios for a multiunit operation and said he would follow any Department of Mental Health staffing rules.

- Licensing sequence: The applicant stated he would seek zoning approval first and then pursue third-party credential checks and state licensure; staff confirmed some non-zoning approvals would be contingent on planning commission action.

- Site specifics: The property includes multiple units labeled A, B, C and E in application materials; the applicant told staff the missing Unit D reflected prior owners’ numbering and not a substantive omission.

Commission action

Commissioner Will Parsons moved to deny the conditional-use request, citing concerns about location and cumulative impacts; the motion carried 6-0. The commission recorded affirmative votes from Will Parsons, AJ Mintel, Roger Daniel, David Cash, Tara Ramsey and one other commissioner who indicated support during roll call. No formal conditions or alternatives were adopted.

What the ruling does and next steps

The denial stops the applicant’s immediate path to obtain the zoning-based conditional use required to host the proposed group home at this property. The applicant said he would need zoning approval before completing state licensure; staff noted the Department of Mental Health licensure and other nonzoning reviews remain separate processes. The applicant may choose to pursue a different site, revise the proposal, or seek further administrative or legal recourse; none of those next steps were explicit in the hearing.

Closing note

Commissioners emphasized they were not rejecting the idea of youth residential care in Middletown but said they concluded the proposed site was an unsuitable match given public-safety concerns, staffing uncertainties and neighborhood-revitalization goals.