Swansea board approves smaller expansions for two group homes after residents raise supervision, safety and process concerns

The Village of Swansea Board of Trustees voted to approve modified special-use permits for two group homes after a lengthy public hearing and legal briefing on federal housing law.

At the July meeting the board approved ordinance 1993 to permit up to six residents at 2921 Bridal Lane and ordinance 1994 to permit up to seven residents at 3755 Winward Way. Both votes followed a planning-and-zoning recommendation to reduce the petitioner’s original requests (which had asked for higher occupancy) and were taken after extended public comment and legal advisement. The board suspended the normal two-reading requirement and completed second readings and roll-call votes during the regular meeting.

The approvals came after neighbors described ongoing concerns with noise, supervision and building problems at one house that had operated for four residents. Timothy Hassel, who said he lives directly behind the Bridal Lane site, told the board he was not opposed to the residents themselves but urged denial of a larger expansion based on “a track record that is not reassuring,” citing an incident he said involved a 15‑year‑old in the neighborhood. Joseph Strauss and several other neighbors recounted disruptive incidents, construction and plumbing issues, and said they had not received promised notice about the reapplication process.

David Arrist, executive director of Marian County Horizon Center and the provider seeking changes, described the operator’s background, licensing and staffing approach. Arrist said the homes serve adults with intellectual disabilities under state Medicaid waivers and that the provider conducts background checks, limits driving by residents, and will staff houses consistent with licensing requirements. He told the board, “we will do it. Yes, we will do it,” when asked whether the operator would meet a 24/7‑type staffing requirement the planning board had recommended.

Village attorney John Kowski advised trustees that federal statutes — including the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act — constrain local authority to restrict housing for protected groups, a recurring legal issue in the village’s prior hearings on group homes. Kowski urged the board to balance community concerns with the village’s obligations under federal law.

After discussion, planning and zoning recommended limiting occupancy rather than denying the applications. Trustees voted to adopt those limits: six at Bridal Lane (ordinance 1993) and seven at Winward Way (ordinance 1994). Roll-call tallies were recorded during the meeting; both measures passed with more trustees voting in favor than opposed.

The board did not remove the committee or staff’s oversight role: trustees asked staff and legal to finalize stipulations (including staffing levels, notification to neighbors, and building-code compliance) and to return with clarified language before implementation. The mayor emphasized the difficulty of the vote, noting the board’s duty to protect residents while complying with federal and state laws.

The board’s actions close the immediate zoning question but leave operational oversight and any stipulations (staffing plans, monitoring, and notice procedures) to follow-up by staff and the licensing authorities.

Ordinance and voting details: ordinance 1993 (2921 Bridal Lane) approved with occupancy set at six; ordinance 1994 (3755 Winward Way) approved with occupancy set at seven. The planning-and-zoning recommendation to forward both permits and the board votes were recorded in meeting minutes.

Next steps: staff and legal will refine the permit conditions and the village will continue to monitor code and licensing compliance.