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Glendale council rejects creation of S‑2 zoning district that would have allowed 24‑bed community living arrangement
Summary
After a half-hour public hearing with neighbors raising safety, traffic and tax concerns, the Glendale Common Council voted 4–2 to defeat a zoning text amendment that would have created an S‑2 Special Institutional district and enabled a proposed 24‑bed community based residential facility at 7007 N. Rangeline Road.
The Glendale Common Council voted 4–2 to reject an ordinance that would have added an S‑2 Special Institutional zoning district to the city code and allowed community based residential facilities (CBRFs) as a conditional use.
Council opened a public hearing after staff explained the S‑2 language under consideration (referenced in the agenda as 13.10.38.0.1). Meredith, a city planner, told the council the draft would permit “community living arrangements as defined by state statutes” and that the applicant's proposal met the definition of a group living arrangement for adults with care. Staff said the text amendment was required before any rezoning to S‑2 could be applied to 7007 N. Rangeline Road.
Nearby residents testified during the hearing. Troy Peterson (7057 N. Rangeline Road) said he and his family are familiar with foster and residential care homes but worried the broader list of permitted uses could include facilities he would not want a few hundred feet from his property. Rachel Batt (6998 N. Rangeline Road) said she was "a little interested and a little nervous," citing extra traffic, emergency vehicles and safety for her 10‑year‑old. Frederick Cohen asked whether the property would be taxed; staff confirmed the proposed owner would pay property taxes and that the district does not automatically create tax‑exempt status.
Arthur Setzian, the property owner and applicant, told the council the proposed facility would not accept residents who are drug‑ or alcohol‑dependent or correctional/forensic placements, and that employees would be background‑checked. He described the project as a low‑acuity, 24‑bed group living arrangement and said the interior would be extensively remodeled while exterior changes would be minimal.
During council debate, members raised concerns about Glendale's limited remaining developable land, the possibility that a parcel could later be sold to a nonprofit and become tax‑exempt, ambulance access and nighttime staff traffic, and whether the city could require a PILOT (payment in lieu of taxes) or other protections. Staff and the city attorney said city code allows pilot agreements and that pilot commitments can be negotiated, but such agreements typically do not survive a change in ownership.
The motion to approve the zoning text amendment was made by Alderman Vukovich and seconded by Alderman Bailey. After discussion, the mayor asked for a show of hands and announced the ordinance was not approved by a 4–2 vote. Because the council did not adopt the S‑2 text amendment, the companion rezoning of 7007 N. Rangeline from M‑1 to S‑2 could not proceed as presented.
Council members and staff told neighbors the applicant could work with staff on alternative zoning or return with a different proposal, and that public hearings would be required for any future zoning request. The council then moved on to unrelated business.
