Marshall Council looks to define ‘sober home’ in city ordinance
MARSHALL — The city of Marshall will be considering an update that would add a definition for “sober homes” to Marshall city ordinances. Agenda packet materials for Tuesday’s Marshall City Council meeting said the update would bring city ordinances in line with Minnesota state laws.
On Tuesday, city council members voted to introduce the ordinance update as part of their consent agenda. Council members didn’t discuss individual consent agenda items on Tuesday, but they did approve consent agenda items, including introduction of the ordinance change.
The proposed new ordinance language adds licensed sober homes under the city’s definition of “residential facility.” Agenda packet materials said the ordinance change would help make sure that no more than six people could live in a single-family house if it becomes a sober home.
Under Minnesota state laws, residential facilities serving six or fewer people are required to be a permitted use in single-family residential districts, agenda materials said.
The council’s Legislation and Ordinance committee reviewed the proposed ordinance change in May, and recommended approval by the council. The Marshall Planning Commission conducted a hearing on the proposal on June 11, and also recommended that it be approved.