More (Group) Day Care Home Restrictions

On December 13, 2005, the Troy City Planning Commission decided not to recommend to the City Council the changing of the city ordinance, pertaining to Group Day Care Homes in the strictly residential districts, for the following reasons:

(1) It has been demonstrated by public input, letters and photos that family (1-6 children) and group day care (6-12 children and full-time employee(s)) homes do have a negative impact on the neighboring property owners.

(2) According to City Attorney, Allan Motzny, and City Director of Building & Zoning, Mark Stimac, any building or structure or portion thereof that is used for the education, supervision or personal care services for more than five (5) children older than 2-1/2 years of age would be classified as a Group E occupancy. This has significant implications on the ability of the structure to comply with building code requirements such as automatic sprinklers in basements, Michigan barrier-free design and the Federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

(3) There is nothing within the child care licensing law that exempts these facilities from the Michigan Building Code provisions.

(4) The current ordinance allows for family day care homes but limits enrollment thus permitting a needed service while minimizing the intrusion and negative impact on neighboring properties.

If City Council decides to allow such facilities to operate, then commissioners recommended extensive regulations, including 6-foot-high privacy fences, circular drives for easier flow of pickup and dropoff traffic, and minimum lot size and side yard setback requirement.

We, as residents in Troy, support their decision made on December 13, 2005.