By Howard Koplowitz
Community Board 10 unanimously voted down a plan to construct a group home in South Ozone Park last week, contending that the community is oversaturated with such facilities.
The two-story home, proposed to be built by Saint Vincent's Services on 126th Street between Rockaway Boulevard and Sutter Avenue in South Ozone Park, would house as many as eight children up to 18 years old with social, emotional and behavioral difficulties, such as depression and bi-polar disorder.
“These children are in transition to return to their families” from treatment facilities and hospitals, said Christopher Jones, the Saint Vincent's Services managing director.
He said the proposed lot is 8,000 square feet, but the home would take up less than 5,000 square feet. It would include a living room, recreation room, dining room, computer study, bedrooms and laundry and storage space.
The home is intended only for Queens residents, Jones said.
If constructed, the home would have a staff of 15, including a program director, staff co-ordinator and nurses, he said.
The board unanimously opposed the group home's construction in a hand vote.
Martha Taylor Butler, a staffer for state Assemblywoman Michelle Titus (D-Far Rockaway), said Titus was against the group home because the area has been inundated with them.
“In our community, we have too many residential programs,” Butler said. “We've had enough. We are against any more residential beds in South Ozone Park.”
CB 10 Chairwoman Betty Braton said there were 14 group facilities in zip code 11420, which includes South Ozone Park.
“It's kind of understandable where [Taylor Butler is coming from,” Braton said, noting that their are eight other facilities located throughout the community board's jurisdiction.
CB 10 member Margaret Finnerty agreed.
“It seems like when people don't know where to plant anything, they put it in South Ozone Park,” she said. “Enough is enough to our community.”
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Reach reporter Howard Koplowitz by e-mail at hkoplowitz@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 173.
