The Des Plaines City Council denied a conditional-use permit for a small group home looking to expand after hearing from residents who alleged the home is unkempt and doesn’t follow local laws.

Diane Home Care, 965 Willson Drive, wanted to increase the number of people that could live in the home from five to eight, which would classify it as a large residential care home. The eight adult residents with developmental disabilities would live in the four-bedroom home along with two employees during the day and one at night, said Senior Planner Scott Mangum.

Last October, the city’s community and economic development department learned seven people lived inside the home after fire and police officials responded to the business for a false fire alarm, city documents show.

Though the city issued a certificate to the home to care for five residents in 1999, owner Ioan Tiran told the city’s Zoning Board of Appeals last year the state department of human services said the business could take in eight residents, documents show. He added he mistakenly overlooked the city’s code.

Residents who spoke at the council meeting on Feb. 6 said the home is a disgrace to the neighborhood because it has high weeds, numerous broken roof shingles and grapevines clogging the gutters, among other exterior problems. They added more people have lived inside the home than what’s allowed.

“They made the corrections, but they were forced to do it,” said neighbor Tom Kuchanski. “This is a business venture to me and their only goal is financial.”

Michael Bartholomew, the city’s director of community and economic development, said over the next weeks the city will make spot inspections at group homes to see if businesses are following city code.