Zoning board to rule on proposed personal care home
The Fayette County Zoning Hearing Board on Wednesday voted to issue a ruling within 45 days on a request from the Light and Life Ministries to build a personal care home on its property in Fairchance. Light and Life, which is affiliated with the Free Methodist Church of North America, requested a special exception to build a 24-bed care home on 28 acres on Route 857 where it operates a campground.
The land is zoned for high-density residential use and a personal care home is permitted in that zone with a special exception, said attorney Anthony Dedola, who represented Light and Life at the hearing.
Light and Life has owned a personal care home on Kyle Avenue in Fairchance since 1984, said manager Terry Rahm, who would also manage the proposed care home.
He said the nonprofit facility would operate 24 hours a day and its staff of up to 10 employees would dispense medication, but visiting nurses would provide medical care for senior citizens staying in the home.
Rahm said the Fairchance – Georges Municipal Sewage Authority has a moratorium on issuing new sewage taps and the project couldn’t proceed without a tap.
Dedola said the care home would be built about 80 feet from Route 857 and it would be 130 feet from the property line of the nearest residential property.
The Rev. Paul Lesher, a pastor and president of Light and Life, said the Free Methodist Church of North America would own the property and building.
However, none of the Light and Life representatives was able to respond to questions from the board about whether the care home meets the county’s zoning ordinance requirements for parking spaces, lighting, buffers and signage for care homes in residential zones.
Board member Michael Lucy said the ordinance calls for 14 parking spaces based on the provided number of beds and employees.
Solicitor Gretchen Mundorff said a sewerage system and a buffer between residential properties are required.
Board member Jim Burns said the board’s decision would require Light and Life to comply with those provisions of the ordinance.