Park for sex offenders cited

The mobile home park is not zoned properly, code enforcement says.

By S.I. ROSENBAUM Times Staff Writer
Published March 12, 2008

PALM RIVER - A controversial mobile home park for sex offenders has been cited because it's not in an area zoned for "professional residential facilities," or group homes.

But county code enforcement manager Jim Blinck conceded he wasn't sure whether the park constitutes a group home. Ultimately, he said, a zoning administrator will have to decide.

Under the county code, a group home is a residence that provides "lodging, supervision and counseling" for people who are "in need of a structured environment" - all things that apply to Nancy Morais' nonprofit, Florida Justice Transitions.

But the code goes on to define a group home as being "licensed by the state Department of Health," which Morais says does not apply to her.

"We're just a nonprofit church group," she said.

Blinck said the park seems to fall into a gray area, fitting part of the definition but not all of it. He cited the park's owner anyway, he said; the matter will be automatically scheduled for a code enforcement hearing. If it's determined the park is a group home, the owner will either be able to contest the ruling or apply for a variance.

Morais said she felt the code was being enforced unfairly. If the residents of the park were not sex offenders, they would not be getting this kind of scrutiny, she said.

"I feel Code Enforcement and county commissioners are using their power improperly to harass and get these men out," she said.

Blinck said Morais' own description of her services caught the department's attention.

"Nancy said she's the sub-leasee and she's placing people here and they're on probation and receive counseling and are supervised, so it appears she's operating a professional residential facility," Blinck said. "It's as simple as that."

The matter will be scheduled for a hearing.

S.I. Rosenbaum can be reached at srosenbaum@sptimes.com or (813) 661-2442.

[Last modified March 12, 2008, 01:40:52]