Permit for East Point maternity home approved

The East Point city council recently voted to approve a special use permit for allowing a group residence shelter at 3409 Washington Road for expecting mothers.

The vote came in a public hearing for zoning issues in December, despite several residents who opposed approval. The application was requested by Sheltering Grace Ministries Inc. to serve as a maternity home for up to 15 unrelated adults.

Once in place, the ordinance would require the residents be expecting women only, 21 years of age or older. No men or prior children would be allowed, the residents would be screened for drugs and criminal records.