Taylor Avenue and Ginger Way residents allege the state is
misplacing group homes in their neighborhood that could put
medically fragile patients at risk.
Morgan Hill – Taylor Avenue and Ginger Way residents allege the state is misplacing group homes in their neighborhood that could put medically fragile patients at risk.
The residents are reacting to a survey filled out by a non-profit corporation last December indicating the neighborhood is safe for group homes for patients with developmental disabilities, despite being close to busy Monterey Highway and streets without sidewalks.
“We’re appalled at how the state’s site-selection surveys were filled out,” said Bob Reinhardt, a Taylor Avenue resident who opposes the homes being built near his house. “We’re not calling (the state) liars, but the big part that’s missing is how these criteria were interpreted. It’s like these homes are being rubber stamped.”
Jennifer Richer, program director for Hallmark Community Services, a non-profit corporation contracting with the California Department of Developmental Services to develop the group homes, said the three-page site-selection surveys are meant to be subjective and “serve as a guide” along with other factors such as whether the homes have floor plans that allow them to be adapted for medical use.
Because the homes are licensed for medically fragile and elderly patients ages 60 and above who are mostly bed-ridden or in wheelchairs, Richer said patients do not require many outdoor amenities such as sidewalks and parks because they have a “low activity level.”
“I think there is a desire from neighbors in Morgan Hill for there to be a black and white solution,” Richer said, referring to a controversy that has some residents worried about their property values. “But that’s not the case. Every home we’re developing is unique. In this case, the quiet neighborhood is perfect for the patients.”
When they open later this year, the homes will house patients from Agnews Developmental Center in San Jose, a state-run hospital with roughly 250 patients slated to close in 2008.
The state government approved a plan to scatter the patients into licensed community-based housing with professional care staff. About 65 homes will open in the Bay Area, including four in Morgan Hill. The other two local homes are located on La Alameda Drive and West Dunne Avenue.
Reinhardt and his neighbors feel the homes are being developed capriciously. Two questions in the survey ask if the neighborhood is mixed with commercial and industrial uses and if there are nearby safety hazards such as “heavily traveled streets.” While these questions were answered “no” for Taylor and Ginger, residents point to nearby Monterey Highway as a safety hazard and a commercial nursery located near the end of Taylor. Had these two questions been answered “yes,” the homes would not be allowed based on the state’s standards.
While some residents want the Morgan Hill City Council to prevent the group homes from opening, city officials say their hands are tied.
“If the state has licensed a group-home facility for six people or fewer people, there is nothing the city can do,” said Morgan Hill City Attorney Janet Kern. “People should put their time and energy into lobbying state officials.”
The council has agreed to discuss the controversial matter at its May 23 meeting, which starts at 7pm, but City Councilman Greg Sellers, who has met with Taylor Avenue residents, said the city lacks jurisdiction to prevent the homes from operating.
