Madison aldermen approve accommodation to allow Baptist Homes to operate supervised living at R-1 address

The Mayor and Board of Aldermen of the City of Madison on May 19 adopted an ordinance to grant a reasonable accommodation under the Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act that allows Baptist Homes, Inc. to provide supervised living services at 405 Drayton Place in an R‑1 residential zoning district.

The ordinance, presented to the board and moved by Alderman Janie Jarvis with a second from Alderman Pat Peeler, passed by unanimous vote. Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler presided over the vote. Approval was conditioned on the city’s receipt of required documentation, including affidavits stating that each resident at 405 Drayton Place meets the statutory definition of disability under the Fair Housing Act and the ADA, and other documents the ordinance requires.

Supporters framed the action as a regulatory accommodation to allow supervised living services within an existing residential zone; the minutes record no recorded opposition and show the motion carried unanimously. The ordinance also authorizes execution of a Settlement and Release Agreement tied to the accommodation and the city’s review of the required documents.

The ordinance cites federal fair‑housing and disability law as the basis for the accommodation; the board’s action does not itself create federal eligibility standards but requires documentation that residents meet those federal definitions before the city will finalize approvals.

Procedurally, the board handled the item after returning from executive session on potential litigation and adopted the ordinance during the same meeting. The minutes state the ordinance was adopted as presented and the motion carried unanimously. The city did not list a timetable for implementation in the minutes; required documents must be provided before final administrative execution of the settlement and accommodations.