Zoning board to hear pitch for group home in Washington Twp.

A group home for people with intellectual disabilities is hoping to locate in Washington Township.

Merakey, formerly known as NHS Human Services, will go before the township’s zoning hearing board at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday in search of a special exception for a group home in the rural village zoning district.

The applicant will also seek relief from the 5-acre minimum lot size requirement for a group home at 3350 Friedens Road, Slatington.

Todd Weidman, township manager/zoning officer, said the group home would be located a little over a mile away from Peters Elementary School.

Weidman said that according to the application, the group home would serve three people with intellectual disabilities.

Beth Caraccio, senior executive director for quality and administration, confirmed that the group home would be for three people.

Caraccio said the people are currently residents at the Hamburg State Center, Hamburg, which will eventually close.

She said the plan is to move them to the group home proposed for Washington Township.

Merakey provides services to individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities, behavioral health services for adults and children, and education and autism services.