Some neighboring Russell residents are angry over the proposed community home being built on Pine Grove Boulevard by Lakeshore Community Services, Inc.

During a public meeting at Russell Fire Hall, they contended that the proposed home is contrary to Pine Grove Township's zoning ordinance.

"We bought that piece of property because it was a really nice piece of property," said Richard Ruedy, chief executive officer with Lakeshore Community Services, Inc. of Erie. "What we try to do is to find a good place for folks to live and have a nice home for them to live in."

Lakeshore Community Services, Inc. was established in 1986 to provide residential care for persons with mental retardation. The agency has since expanded its efforts to include support for persons with serious and persistent mental illness. The agency currently has 30 facilities throughout Erie, Warren, Cameron, Elk, McKean, Clearfield and Jefferson counties.

Two mentally challenged adults will reside in a four-bedroom, two-bathroom home at 7 Pine Grove Blvd. in Russell.

Currently, the two individuals who will be moving into the community home are living alone, and "to bring a couple folks in made a whole lot more sense than to have them out there by themselves," said Ruedy.

According to Ruedy, the individuals will be monitored during all hours of the day, seven days a week. There will be two staff members present during the day, one for each resident, and one staff member will be present during the overnight hours.

Residents in close proximity to the community home lot are not pleased.

"Our problem is, we live in an R1 neighborhood, which says single family dwellings, and we have a group trying to build a duplex in our neighborhood, which is not allowable in our neighborhood," said Bob Bablak, who lives at 14 Pine Grove Blvd., kitty corner to where the lot is.

An R1 district is classified as "single family residential," said Gary Snook, zoning officer for Warren County.

However, from a structural standpoint, the home is not a duplex, he said.

"In order to have a duplex, both dwelling units have to be separated," said Snook. "These are not."

"The one on the right hand side of the house has to go through the left hand portion of the house to get to the other side," explained Snook, referring to how the residents would enter the home from the garage.

The building permit has been issued and the zoning permit has been issued, but the zoning permit has since been appealed, said Snook.

According to Snook, all that can currently be done on the lot it site work.

The process will be on hold until the Warren County Zoning Hearing Board meets to discuss the matter. No date has been set for that meeting.

Ruedy is optimistic that the community home will be up and running sooner rather than later.

"We would hope to have it completed in the next few months," he said.