Orange County — Board of Zoning Adjustment

SE-01-07-047 — Threshold, Inc.

Request: Special Exception in A-2 zone to modify condition of November 6, 1980 approval to allow expansion of community residential home for up to 28 developmentally disabled residents and allow ancillary educational facilities for developmentally disabled clients.

Decision: Approved

Hearing: The Staff Report and Recommendation is located on Pages84, 85 and 86. The applicant asked for a minor alteration to Condition #1, asking that they not be restricted on the number of off-site residents visiting the property for educational purposes. He noted the number allowed would be governed by the State. They currently have 20-25 that visit the site, and there is more than ample room in the existing buildings to accommodate their needs. He noted that if more room is in fact needed, that this would necessitate a new buildling, which would warrant a return to the BZA for another public hearing. Staff indicated that prior to the public hearing, residents to the west on Restful Street and Wilde Avenue had inquired with concerns that Threshold would be expanding their buildings and going into the forested area on-site lying between their homes and Threshold's existing buildings. In response to those concerns, the applicant held a meeting with the neighbors to clarify that this was not the case. Staff also worked with the neighbors and explained the site plan of record and the conditions prohibited any physical building or use expansion on-site without another public hearing by the BZA. The applicant and the neighbors worked up a 3rd condition which they asked the BZA to incorporate as a part of the Special Exception approval. There was no opposition to this request, contingent upon the three conditions.