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The City of St. Paul doesn't require special permitting for foster homes, no matter how many <br />children are taken into the home, for various reasons. One is that foster homes are a social issue <br />and not a zoning matter; it is the responsibility of the licensing agencies (the State and county) to <br />insure and monitor quality programs. Secondly, the type of people who take on the job of foster <br />care are few and should be aff'n'med rather than given another obstacle to overcome. Because <br />foster parents are few and far between, the foster care home is a very random rather than <br />concentrated use of land. Finally, under most law situations, foster children are considered part of <br />the family and society cannot pick and choose what kind of kids will be in the family next door. <br /> <br />Conversely, there are those who feel that the line drawn between foster homes and correctional <br />institutes is becoming blurred. <br /> <br />State law does not allow the City to deny a group home such as the Applicant's, for six or fewer <br />youth. However, State law does require the Applicant to obtain a conditional use permit, if the <br />City so requires, when requesting a group home for more than six youth. Therefore, the issue is <br />whether or not a conditional use permit should be issued for the additional two youth. The City's <br />focus needs to be on the land use impact resulting from the addition of two youth to the residence. <br /> <br />The following items are enclosed: <br /> <br />a) <br />b) <br />c) <br /> <br />d) <br />e) <br /> <br />Site location map <br />Meeting minutes from the 1995 McLafferty case <br />Findings of fact, conclusions of law, and order, dated March 15, 1996 and issued <br />by the Anoka County District Court <br />Proposed f'mdings of fact <br />Proposed conditional use permit <br /> <br />R ecommenda ti on: <br /> <br />Unless there are substantial facts and evidence presented at the public hearing to the effect that the <br />addition of two youth will have negative impacts as outlined in the criteria for granting a <br />conditional use permit, City Staff recommends approval of the request. <br /> <br />Commission Action: <br /> <br />Motion to: <br />Recommend that City Council adopt Findings of Fact relating to Patrick McLafferty's <br />request for a foster group home. <br /> <br />Motion to: <br />Recommend that City Council approve/deny Patrick McLaffe~'s request for a conditional <br />use permit and adopt Resolution declaring terms of same. <br /> <br />Review Checklist: <br /> <br />PC: <br /> <br />City Administrator <br />City Attomey <br /> <br />5/7/96 <br /> <br /> <br />