For the second time in the last three months, the Bryan Planning and Zoning Commission has approved a conditional use permit for an existing home-based adult care facility.
Tommie Sue Powers, a registered nurse, also lives with the residents at 806 East 29th where she says she assists mostly hospice patients.
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Supporting the permit was someone who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 years. Melanie Fritz says her mother in law stayed at Powers’ home.
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During a recent public hearing, commissioners heard for the first time Powers had been in business since last October and the city knew about it since March. Commission chairman Michael Beckendorf asked Development Planner Martin Zimmerman why no penalty was being considered.
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Commissioner Bobby Gutierrez, who lives about a mile away from the home at 806 East 29th, supported the operation as did vice-chairman John Bond.
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Two speakers called for the city to require state licensing, which isn’t mandatory when there are fewer than four residents. Powers said that would put her out of business. The planning commission voted unanimously approving permits for the East 29th home and a similar operation to open by Powers husband at 402 South Haswell.