PENN TWP — A proposed group home in Renfrew will move forward due to federal regulations.

Township Supervisor Sam Ward, board chairman, said Monday that Valley Community Services’ proposed home can be categorized as a single-family dwelling under the federal Americans with Disabilities Act.

The supervisors last month denied a conditional use request for the group home, which would be built at the intersection of Railroad Street and Crowe Road.

A conditional use is required for the construction and operation of a facility because the land is zoned residential.

The group home would house three people with intellectual disabilities.

Ward said at the Monday meeting the supervisors appropriately denied the conditional use request for the home, but cannot deny it moving forward with the change.

“We also recognize they may obtain an occupation permit for a single family dwelling,” he said.

Clinton Bonetti, township land use administrator, said the company’s attorney, Ronald McCall of Sharon, notified the township about the ADA provision.

“We concur that an application for a single-family dwelling can go forward,” Bonetti said.

Following the March supervisors meeting at which roughly 40 Renfrew residents protested the group home, the board in April voted 2 to 1 to deny the conditional use.

Ward and Supervisor Bert Mowry voted in the majority. Supervisor Doug Roth dissented.

During that meeting, Ward read a statement citing the township zoning ordinance and residents’ concerns as reasons for his rejection.

Bonetti said a group home was not covered under conditional use exceptions.

“The board felt they did not comply with that definition,” he said.

Mowry said in an interview that his April vote was due to him wanting to follow the zoning ordinance.

“I voted the way our township zoning ordinance was,” he said.

During the April meeting, Roth said the group home residents were being discriminated against before they even arrive.

Roth said in an interview the group home should have been approved the first time.

“I disagree with the way the zoning ordinance is being interpreted,” he said. “It’s obviously a problem. We can’t agree on it.”

During the April meeting, township solicitor Phil Lope said a conditional use covered personal care or boarding homes.

While personal care homes typically house people with physical limitations, group homes have people with intellectual disabilities.

The Renfrew residents in March claimed there were too many risks involved with having the type of people living in group homes in their neighborhood.

One resident, a registered nurse, classified group occupants as not being normal.

Ward said in an interview his conditional use denial did not address that specific concern.

“I didn’t voice an opinion on that aspect one way or the other,” he said.

According to township meeting minutes, there was no public comment on the issue at the April meeting.

Ward said he would meet with Renfrew residents to explain why the group home would be permitted.

“We try to respect their wishes,” he said.