Group Home Could Move Into Kendra Lane House

A group home for children 16 and under with closed-headed brain injuries could soon be located in a Hartland neighborhood.

The Brighton-based Work Skills Corporation has made an offer to buy a home located at 1324 Kendra Lane and, according to a letter sent out to residents, a neighborhood informational meeting will be held at 100 Summit Street in Brighton on Wednesday at 6 p.m. 

The possible new addition is in accordance with the Michigan Zoning Enabling Act, according to Hartland Township Planning Director Dave Campbell, and supersedes any local regulations in regards to a foster care facility. 

“Effectively what the Zoning Enabling Act says is that the township cannot treat a state licensed adult foster care facility any differently than the township could treat a single family home,” he said.  

Hartland Township would also not have the jurisdiction or authority to impose any type of restrictions on the use of the facility, according to Campbell.

A deed restriction that applies to the Kendra Lane property and others nearby was presented to Hartland Township by a homeowner, which states that no businesses of any kind would be carried out upon the premises, according to Campbell.

The question, however, was if the deed restriction would supersede state law.

“I am inclined to say that it does not,” Campbell said. “That you cannot have a deed restriction or restrictive covenant that runs contrary to state and/or federal law, but I would be more inclined to pose that question to an attorney than answer it myself.”

If the Work Skills Corporation proceeds with their offer on the Kendra Lane property, the facility would house children between the general ages of 13 and 16 with the goal of transitioning them back into their own homes or into a more independent living arrangement.

“Our goal is that this will be a transition and not a permanent residence,” said Cortney Wiggins, Employment Services Administrator for Work Skills Corporation. “We really want to get them back into society.”

The six-bedroom home will allow each client their own room and will be staffed 24-hours a day, according to Wiggins, but says the medical treatment would be "mild" and that it won’t look like a “hospital setting,” but would be a home.

Also, depending on the requirements for each child, they will be enrolled in school or attend training programs during the day.

There is no time line for when the Work Skills Corporation could move to Kendra Lane and Wiggins says that the decision will be based on the outcome of Wednesday's community meeting.

Campbell encourages any neighborhood residents that have questions or concerns to attend the meeting where the purpose, according to Wiggins will be to introduce WSC and educate neighbors about their purpose, but also learn about the neighborhood community.

“We want them (residents) to know that we want to come into the community and work with them and ease some of their concerns,” Wiggins said. “Because at any point, any one of us could be in that situation.”