A new city ordinance requires group homes to be located at least a half mile away from other group homes in the city. The city planning department said that only leaves room for up to five more group homes in Fayetteville.
Bessie Magby said that the separation requirement is not fair to her special-needs clients.
Magby owns six group homes in Fayetteville, and has plans for two more.The city mandate will put restrictions on future facilities.
"Who is to say they cannot live next door to me without putting distance between them. These people are just like you and me," Magby said.
Fayetteville resident Andreas Ringl supports the city's approval of a separation requirement between group homes.
"We absolutely have nothing against group homes. However, more than enough accommodation has occurred in our particular county," he said.
Ringl said that neighborhoods have to be protected against sex offenders and juvenile delinquents and that the 284 group homes already in Fayetteville are more than enough.
"The density that has been clustered in Cumberland County is excessive," he said.
Fayetteville has more group homes than any other city in the state.
A city attorney also expressed concerns about how accommodating the new requirement will be for the disabled.
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