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Monroe County BZA denies zoning variance for women's shelter

By Bente Bouthier

Posted March 6, 2023

Image of the home on East Kerr Creek Road that Sojourn bought in December. (Monroe County BZA packet)

The Monroe County Board of Zoning Appeals denied Sojourn House for Women’s zoning request for the property it bought in December on East Kerr Creek Road.

The nonprofit provides support and shelter to women who have been exploited or trafficked and wants to use the home on the 8-acre property in the eastern part of the county to provide transitional housing for clients.

The land bought by Sojourn is listed as Agricultural/Rural Reserve and doesn’t allow for group home facilities, but it is ok’d for a single-family dwelling under county ordinance. The variance is asking for an exception so that the home can be used for four to eight women to live in a group setting and receive services for mental health.

Based on recommendation from the county’s planning department, the nonprofit thought its request was valid under the Fair Housing Act, and that state’s allowance of the property for “Residential Facility for Individuals with Mental Illness” overrode the county’s land ordinance.

The planning department recommended that the zoning variance be granted in part because the women living there would be in a protected living arrangement sharing household duties.

President of Sojourn’s board Carissa Muncie said it’s difficult to find affordable homes and that very few properties would work for their purpose without a variance. She said the organization is evaluating its options.

“It’s pretty much either give up and move on and find another house, go through the Board of Zoning Appeals again, or go a different track and get pretty legal about it.”

Muncie said the property on East Kerr Creek Road was optimal for its parking and outdoor sanctuary space.

During Wednesday’s zoning appeals meeting, residents in the area expressed concern about Sojourn’s ability to maintain the property and how much nonresidential activity the group’s services would bring to the area.

Marsha Minton says the area is not close to any schools, community resources, or public transportation, which Sojourn’s program participants would need.

“Sojourn bought this property for a greatly reduced price, far below its value,” Minton said. “They can resell it and get a hefty profit to purchase something in a more urban setting, offering more services which I believe will be more appropriate for the success of its stated goals.”

Zillow lists the home and property for having sold for $425,000.

The board of zoning appeals denied Sojourn’s request on a 3 to 1 vote based on the county’s local zoning regulations, which the board acknowledged had not been updated since 1997.

Margaret Clements, the Monroe County Zoning board chair and member of the plan commission voted against the variance because she said the potential for volunteers, staff, and residential people in the area sounded more intense than what exists on the road currently.

“So, I don’t find it keeping with the area adjacent to the property,” she said. “That to me doesn’t seem to fit with the single-family zoning definition. From what the residents have said that they think it would be disruptive not only to their way of life, but to the values of their property is what I’ve heard tonight.”