TRAVERSE CITY, MI -- The City Commission gave the go ahead for bigger senior assisted living homes in Traverse City. 

These changes approved Monday night will allow for up to 12 seniors to get the care they need without leaving the city. 

Doug Keyes and Pamela Fay are plan to open an adult foster care home in Traverse City's Central Neighborhood.  They are the individuals who suggested these changes to city officials. 

They say these homes will benefit many generations to come. Keyes says, "It will benefit people who are coming to the area to retire here, but it will also benefit your mom, my mom, my grand mom, you know that need a place to live."

City Commissioner Jim Carruthers voted for these changes and now says seniors who want care won't be forced to live outside the city, "It might enable people to continue maintaining a reasonable lifestyle in the same neighborhood that they've always lived in."

Barbara Budros was the only Commissioner to vote against the changes.  One of her biggest concerns is parking but Keyes says that is something he and Fay have figured out.

Keyes says, "Generally speaking by the time people get to assisted living there not driving as much if they're driving at all and we're going to provide transportation to doctors appointments, to the hospital, to cultural events."

Keyes says that Monday's approval means one step closer to making their senior home a reality but to go forward they still have to get an administrative special land permit. Keyes explains, "So that's a notice to the neighbors that this kind of facility is in their neighborhood and they all have the opportunity...if they live within 300ft they receive a letter and have an opportunity to voice their opinions."

Keyes says that they will apply for the permit soon and that they hope to have their first home up and running in about four months.

Prior to this ordinance amendment senior assisted living homes with more than six residents were restricted to commercial districts outside the city.