Narrative

Glendale City Planning: Citizen Participation Plan
Project Name: Arizona Sunshine Assisted Living - Group Home Expansion
Location: 6008 W Paradise Ln, Glendale, AZ 85306
Case Number: SR24-0468 (Reference: GH24-41)
1. Project Description
Arizona Sunshine Assisted Living is requesting a Disability Accommodation to operate
a Group Home within 1,200 feet of an existing Group Home as defined by the Unified
Development Code, located at 6008 W Paradise Ln, Glendale, AZ 85306. The property is
an 8-bedroom, 4-bathroom single-family residence situated on a 10,731 square foot lot
with a building footprint of approximately 2,712 square feet. The property is currently
zoned as R1-6 (Single-Family Residential).
The requested disability accommodation meets the requirements of the UDC, Section
35.3.102(7), which are as follows:
(a) The requested accommodation is requested by or on the behalf of one (1) or more
individuals with a disability protected under Federal and Arizona Fair Housing Laws (42
U.S.C. § 3600 et seq. and A.R.S. § 41-1491 et seq.);
(b) The requested accommodation is necessary to afford an individual with a disability
equal opportunity to use and enjoy a dwelling;
(c) The standard or requirement unduly restricts the opportunity for a person with a
disability from finding adequate housing within the City of Glendale;
(d) The requested accommodation does not fundamentally alter the nature and
purpose of the UDC of the City of Glendale;
(e) The requested accommodation will not impose an undue financial or administrative
burden on the city, as”undue financial or administrative burden” is defined in Federal or
Arizona fair housing laws (42 U.S.C. § 3600 et seq. and A.R.S. § 41-1491 et seq.) and
interpretive case law;
VAR24-14
Narrative
Failed
BY
DATE
Conditionally Approved
Approved

Sydney Tirella
11/7/2024
City of Glendale
Development Services Department
Planning Division
VAR24-14 Narrative

Act (“FHAA”), the Americans with Disabilities Act, and the Arizona Fair Housing Act
(“AFHA”).
Disability includes a “physical or mental impairment which substantially limits one or
more of such person’s major life activities.”[1] The term “physical or mental impairment”
includes, but is not limited to, diseases and conditions such as orthopedic, visual,
speech and hearing impairments.[2] “Major life activities” includes, but is not limited to,
activities such as seeing, hearing, walking, breathing, performing manual tasks, caring
for one’s self, learning, speaking and working.[3]
While we cannot predict each and every disability future residents will have, people
seeking care in this home will do so because they need assistance with major life
activities as a result of some form of disability. This may include needing help dressing,
bathing and toileting. It may be that the person cannot live safely due to some level of
dementia causing, for example, danger in operating the stove or forgetfulness in taking
medication. It could be that the resident cannot ambulate well and is at risk of falling.
The policy of the home will be to serve residents with disabilities. Therefore, the
anticipated
residents
are considered disabled and are protected from housing
discrimination.
(a) The requested accommodation is requested by or on the behalf of one (1) or
more individuals with a disability
We have two seniors with disabilities requesting accommodations within the Glendale
zip code 85306, who require access to their homes and families while seeking a higher
quality of care than what they are receiving in their current living situations.
(b). The requested accommodation is necessary
This home is located less than 1,200 feet from another group home and does not meet
the City’s spacing requirement (by just 350 ft). Therefore, the requested accommodation
to decrease this spacing requirement is necessary to establish this housing opportunity.
(c). The standard unduly restricts access to housing within the City
There is not enough housing for older adults with disabilities within the City of Glendale.
Failure to grant accommodation exacerbates this problem in a way that unduly restricts
access to housing for this population in the City of Glendale.
[1] 42 U.S.C. § 3602(h)(1); A.R.S. § 41-1491(5).
[2] 24 CFR § 100.201(a)(2).
[3] Id.

At a macro level, this request is justified and aligns with the significant wave of baby
boomers aged 80 and older entering the Assisted Living Era. Current construction
development rates are unable to address the projected shortfall of 775,000 senior
housing units needed by 2030 across the U.S., leaving many seniors at risk of
inadequate living conditions.

In Glendale specifically, Census data indicates a population of 252,141 seniors aged 70
and older (disability class), yet there are less than 82 Residential Assisted Living Homes
available. With an average of 6 occupants per home, this results in a very low 1.3%
saturation rate of senior residents to assisted living beds, compared to a 15%+
saturation rate in nearby areas such as Phoenix and Scottsdale.
Further illustrating the compounding issue, we conducted interviews with 31 Residential
Assisted Living Homes in the surrounding Glendale neighborhoods and found that only
48% of these homes had any vacancies. Alarmingly, 81% of the residences surveyed
reported having one or fewer beds available for the disabled population (seniors over
70 years old). This means that 52% of the Residential Assisted Living Homes in
Glendale indicated 0% vacancy and would be unable to accommodate additional
residents seeking care.
Vacancy Level
# Glendale RAL's
Interviewed
Portion of Population
RAL's (100% Occupied)
16
52%
1 Bed Available (Vacancy)
9
29%
2 Beds Available (Vacancy)
5
16%
3+ Beds Available (Vacancy)
1
3%
Total Glendale RAL's
31
100%
1 bed or Less Available
25
81%

(d). An accommodation would not fundamentally alter the City’s zoning scheme
This home was previously used as an assisted living residence for 12+ years between
2003 and 2019, servicing up to 10 senior residents. Clearly, it’s existence does not alter
the nature and purpose of the UDC.
Because the property is currency certified for disabled persons, previously licensed
and fully operational as a reputable, successful Assisted Living Care Home, it is our
objective to renew and leverage the single family home as configured, and previously
certified/approved by the Glendale Fire Department.
Additionally, the City’s spacing requirement is designed to not overburden one particular
area with group homes. Allowing this home will not run contrary to this goal. The
nearest group home is over 800 feet away and on the other side of North 63rd Avenue.
This road acts as a natural divider in the neighborhood. The subject home is also just
one home away from the commercial corridor lining North 59th Avenue, making the
“feel” of this part of the neighborhood very different from the area where the next
nearest assisted living home is located.

(e). No burden on the City
Other than the time it takes to grant the accommodation, which should be minimal,
there is no undue financial or administrative burden on the City associated with this
request.
Therefore, the purpose of our request is to help service the expanding demand for
exceptional serviced senior care in the Glendale area. This will be accomplished by
utilizing the existing infrastructure of the 8 bedroom home more effectively, allowing
us to provide enhanced, high-quality care to our residents while integrating seamlessly
into the neighborhood.
2. Public Notification Technique
The primary public notification technique will be a neighborhood meeting which will take
place following the mailing of participation notification letters. We will mail notification
letters to all property owners within the designated notification area, in addition to
posting a notification sign at the property to announce our proposed changes. A copy of
the approved notification letter and physical sign is included herein (sample provided
attached). After the feedback period has concluded, a report will be prepared prior to
the neighborhood meeting date.