By Heather Smathers | Casa Grande Dispatch
CASA GRANDE — A proposed expansion to a children’s group home initially opposed by neighbors will be heard by the Casa Grande planning commission, although city officials are recommending denial.
Tiffany Battle runs the Safeway House group home at 1469 E. Laurel Drive, a single-family home in Ironwood Commons. Battle currently serves six children at a time at the facility and wants to expand the home to nine children.
“We’re just like any other family, “ Battle told PinalCentral on a recent tour of the home.
State law provides for a group home of six or fewer occupants to be able to run in municipalities without much regulation from city planners. However, since Battle wants to expand the number of occupants, city Planning and Development Director Paul Tice said Battle needs to obtain a change to her current zone, a planned area development, and also request a conditional use permit.
