Austell denies personal care home permit

A personal care home for Changing Lives Today was turned down 6-0 Monday by the Austell City Council.

The special land use permit was requested for 5540 Fessenden Ave.

Founded in 2009, Changing Lives Today is “a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality services and housing for the aging population and those with physical and mental disabilities regardless of race, religion, ethnicity or any other difference,” according to the Facebook page for Changing Lives Today.

“Our outreach plan includes personal care facilities, home health care, adult day care and respite care.”

Of the 30 who showed up in opposition, nine spoke against the application. More than 100 signed a petition in opposition, and about 50 were opposed at the planning and zoning commission in April.

Former Austell Councilwoman Trudy Causey told The Atlanta Journal-Constitution most of the residents of her neighborhood are families who have resided there, going back three to five generations.

“We don’t need to start rezoning residential areas with special land use permits. We want to keep it family oriented, not a business,” Causey said.