Boardman Township’s Architectural Review Board has recommended denying a conditional use permit application for a proposed group home at 365 East Midlothian Blvd., where, as of Apr. 13, eight registered sex offenders already reside in a building the contains 20 single bedrooms. In some cases, four rooms in the building are serviced by just one bathroom.
      An application for the permit was made by David Ho and Lisa Ng, of Greenville, Pa. American Scholar Ltd., of Greenville, owns the property, and Ho is the registered agent of the firm.
      According to documents provided to the Architectural Review Board, the Andrea Mahone Foundation “operates the owner’s building as a community transitional housing facility for previously incarcerated individuals.” Andrea Mahone Blackmon, of West Hylda, Youngstown, Oh., heads up the foundation.
      Boardman Township Planning/Zoning Director T.J. Keiran has cited American Scholar for operating multi-family dwelling group home without first having obtained a conditional use permit.
      According to Michael Fagan, chairman of Boardman’s Architectural Review Board, “the proposed dormitory-style living units with common area sanitary facilities are not permitted in Boardman Township.” Fagan also points out the 365 East Midlothian not only does not have an occupancy permit from the Boardman Township Fire Department, it also has not obtained an occupancy permit from Mahoning County.
      In seeking the conditional use permit, counsel for American Scholar, Atty. Jonathan Schoenike, says the conditional use permit is needed as a licensing requirement (for the proposed group home) of the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Corrections.
      Counsel says “a license from and contract the ODRC is pending, subject to obtaining an occupancy permit for the building.”
      Karl Blissenbach, parole program specialist with the ODRC, has informed Blackmon (Andrea Mahone) her proposal “appears to have completed the minimum requirements…except for a certificate of use and/or occupancy and zoning compliance.”
      Sonya Harris, who claims to be CEO of Mahoning Valley Professional Administrative Services, says she is responsible for “record keeping and dispatching rides for the Mahone Foundation’s high-risk clients.”
      If a conditional use permit is approved for 365 East Midlothian, it would place at least eight, registered sex offenders and/or ex-convicts living in the same neighborhood where a Gateways to Better Living facility (3924 Sunset Blvd.) is operated.
      Gateways says it “provides individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities a safe, comfortable and supported place to call home… and serves individuals of various need levels, including people faced with significant medical, physical and behavioral challenges.”