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MACOMB, ILL. -- Zoning is stirring up some controversy in Macomb.

Right now, city ordinance prohibits more than two unrelated people living in single family housing zones.

Last week, the Macomb Planning Commission voted to consider three exceptions.

They would allow high school foreign exchange students, international college students and live-in health care and child care providers live with a family in those areas.

KHQA's Jarod Wells talked with people on both sides of this issue.

Project HANDS Representative Sally Egler said, "Our group's position is that there really isn't any need to change it."

Sally Egler is part of Homeowner and Neighborhood Development Strategies, or Project HANDS. She says the current single family home ordinance was unanimously endorsed by the planning commission eight years ago. And when the definition of "family" became more restrictive in 2007, that also was endorsed by the Planning Commission and City Council.

Egler said, "Once you open this definition again, and create exceptions, then our fear is, down the line in another year or two, there will be some other exceptions that will be sought. And we see this as the beginning of a kind of downhill slide."

Egler says the current ordinance already includes exceptions.

Egler said, "In the definition it allows for any possible exceptions that go beyond two unrelated individuals, as being allowed if there is a special permit applied for. So there is a provision that provides for the very exceptions that the Quality of Life people seek."

The Macomb Community Quality of Life Advisory Committee is the organization in favor of changes. KHQA spoke with Vice-Chairman Clyde Cronkhite over the phone. He says it takes about two months to get one of the special permits Egler spoke of. He says if the exceptions are not added to the ordinance, it will prohibit schools and the university from continuing their foreign exchange programs. Cronkhite also feels these exceptions will attract more retired people and families with children to the area.

Both sides will get an opportunity to voice their thoughts and concerns about the issue later this month.

A public hearing on this issue will take place Wednesday, February 24th at the Macomb City Hall.