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<br />. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />August 25, 1993 Plan Commission Meeting Minutes Page B <br /> <br />Mr. Kahn moved that the Plan Commission recommend approval of the proposed text <br />amendment to add "Access Road serving commercial development in or out of such district" as <br />a conditional use in the "PR-O" - Planned Residential-Office District ~34-34.4, the "GC" _ <br />General Commercial District ~34-35.4 and the "PA" - Public Activity District ~34-40.3. The <br />motion was seconded by Mr. Safe and passed by a vote of 6 - 1. <br /> <br />Proposed Text Amendment to ~34-90, Definition of "Family". <br /> <br />The Commission discussed a proposal initiated by Robert Lawless, as a member of Oxford <br />House, represented by Ann B. Lever of Legal Services of Eastern Missouri, that proposes to add <br />the following to the definition of "Family" under ~34-90 of the University City Zoning Code: <br /> <br />Notwithstanding the definition in the preceding sentence, a family <br />shall be deemed to include four or more persons living together in <br />a dwelling unit as a single housekeeping unit, if said persons are <br />handicapped persons as defined in Title VIII of the Civil Rights <br />Act of 1968, as amended by the Fair Housing Amendments Act of <br />1988. Such unrelated persons shall have the right to occupy a <br />dwelling unit in the same manner and to the same extent as any <br />family unit as defined in the first sentence of this definition. <br /> <br />Ms. Lever was unable to attend the meeting and therefore Susan Alverson, staff attorney for <br />Legal Services of Eastern Missouri appeared on her behalf. Ms. Alverson stated that Legal <br />Services represents a group of recovering alcoholics and addicts under the name of "Oxford <br />House" that rent a house in University City at 7139 Amherst. She reviewed the history of the <br />Oxford House program. She stated that the residents of Oxford House wish to have the <br />definition of family changed in order for them to not be prohibited from occupying the house <br />as a single "family" because the current zoning code definition limits the number of unrelated <br />people to three that may live together in one unit. The people are biologically unrelated but they <br />are living together as a family. She stated that there are legal actions in state and federal courts <br />concerning this matter. It is the contention of Oxford House that the Federal Fair Housing Act <br />requires that this type of home be permitted. <br /> <br />Mr. Goldman stated that there is currently a Consent Order filed in Federal Court that permits <br />eight people to live in the home until the discrimination complaint filed against the City by <br />Oxford House is resolved. The situation started when Oxford House moved people into 7139 <br />Amherst without an occupancy permit. There are at least three legal bodies with representing <br />Oxford House: St. Louis University Legal Clinic, Legal Services and the U.S. Justice <br />Department. In a meeting with Ms. Lever it was suggested that they try to obtain a special use <br />permit for a "dormitory" through a Site Plan Review. Mr. Goldman feels that the proposed text <br />amendment is too broad. <br /> <br />m-B-25.plc <br />