It seems everyone has already made up their minds on this, but a few ideas to consider…
1. In-home senior care may be an innovative alternative to the high-priced and impersonal senior facilities that currently operate. It seems that 6-8 seniors with caretakers in one house would be a fairly innocuous and peaceful operation. It is hard to imagine how this would be so disruptive to the neighborhood.
2. It does not seem that the request is to change the zoning to commercial use. It appears to only be a request to allow more people to inhabit the house and offer care services.
3. If some commercial operations did open in the neighborhood, would it be so bad? Sure, it could “change the face” of the neighborhood, but why is it assumed that all commercial operations would be harmful? It might be nice to be able to walk to a neighborhood store instead of driving everywhere.
4. What evidence is there that property values would decrease? With more investment into the neighborhood, it might actually increase property values. Entrepreneurs could buy and restore some of the vacant and dilapidated houses in our neighborhood.
5. Property Rights. Owners should be able to use their property the way they see fit as long as it does not harm others. Who are we to dictate what others can and cannot do with and on their property?
6. Economics. The increased economic activity would improve the local economy. As enterprise is allowed to thrive, we all prosper. If enterprise is stifled in this area, entrepreneurs and their capital will go elsewhere.
7. Liberty. The basic idea is that people are free to do as they wish as long as it does not harm or infringe on others’ life, liberty, and property.
