A rezoning application by Ryan Companies for the Crown Point Center Planned Development to permit assisted living with memory care was approved by Parker town council, going against staff recommendations to deny it.
As the subject property is located in the commercial, office and hotel district of the planned development, council had to determine whether Grand Living was considered residential or medical.
Grand Living is a 100% licensed assisted living health care community that aims to provide personalized healthcare and allow residents to remain in their original apartment even as their needs change.
Located south of E-470, east of Parker Road and on the southeast side of the roundabout where Cottonwood Drive and Crown Crest Blvd converge, the property is currently undeveloped.
The proposed rezoning would modify the boundary between parcels and affect about five acres, according to documents.
In a presentation to council, Ashley Chasez, with the community development department, said the subject property is in the Parker Road Corridor Plan, which recommends commercial uses and also located within the Medical and E-470 Corridor character areas as noted in the master plan.
“Residential uses are not consistent with the intent with the medical district and the E-470 district character areas,” said Chasez. “Especially when the subject property is at a commercial development and located at two major roadways.”
Based on the nine criteria that must be met to allow for a rezoning, town staff claimed four criteria were not met.
A need for the proposal
When conducting research, Strom said Parker will see one of the highest percentage increases in the 75 and up age group.
Additionally, he said as adult kids are wanting to stay closer to their parents and remain in the town, there are high occupancy rates in senior living facilities.
“High occupancy rates indicate the significant need for additional senior housing,” said Strom.
There are six assisted living facilities in the town, said Chasez, and about 10 in the greater Parker area.
Strom added that only two of those communities offer independent living and that both are full.
With multiple letters in support of the rezoning, the CEO of AdventHealth Parker recognized the need and that it would complement the surrounding uses, said Strom.
The parcel of land is the correct site for the proposal
There are other properties within the Crown Point Planned Development that could allow for assisted living and memory care that are not at the center of a major commercial development, said Chasez.
Grand Living could be approved on the parcels on either side of the proposed subject property, said Bryce Matthews, planning manager with community development, as they are planned for supportive medical uses.
However, Strom said the location is the correct parcel as it aids in accessibility to the community and employment opportunities.
When asked by councilmember Joshua Rivero why not use the parcels that are zoned for this use, Strom said the parcel they selected was intentional.
“It’s uniquely positioned,” said Strom. “It takes advantage of some of the grates, we do want to have some underground parking. We also want to be as close as we can to some of those other mixed uses.”
Chris Teigen, vice president of architecture for Ryan Companies senior living sector, said current zoning allows for hotels, health care facilities and any other use that is compatible with the surrounding and allowable uses.
Grand Living includes amenity spaces and programs such as health and wellness and community engagement, as well as a variety of dining options and outdoor activities in addition to support for their medical needs.
Councilmember Laura Hefta said the facility is consistent with rehabilitation efforts.
Additionally, the leases that the residents have at the facility are a monthly basis.
Mitch Trevey, of Trevey Commercial Real Estate and development consultant for Ryan Companies, said it’s no different to an extended stay at a hotel.
“It’s not like multi-family, where they are signing a two-to-three-year lease,” said Trevey. “It’s month to month and they get to stay in their own unit while health care is brought to them, and they can age in place.”
There have been significant changes in the area to warrant a zone change
The Crown Point Planned Development was last amended nearly 10 years ago and since then, the applicant claims there have been changes to senior living and the medical field.
Telgen said families want to be where the action is and their adult kids want their parents there.
“That’s a new development in senior living,” said Telgen. “And maybe something that wasn’t contemplated in the original Crown Point development plan.”
Also, Strom said the parcel has remained vacant for a long time and commercial and retail uses are expanding elsewhere in the town.
Councilmembers John Diak and Rivero agree the market has changed since the planned development was first platted and the plans of the new development does comply with the master plan.
The proposal is consistent with the Town Master Plan
When deciding whether to classify the assisted living facility as residential or healthcare, Rivero said that he does see Grand Living as a major employer.
With a variety of healthcare certified employees , the assisted living facility would employ between 150 and 175 positions in the healthcare industry, said Strom. These include registered nurses, licensed practical nurses, life enrichment directors, physical therapists and more.
Trevey added the facility would give Parker something that other communities would like to have and allow the town to bring in jobs, keep families together and keep the economy healthy.
“I definitely think there is a need that exists for this proposal and that this is the correct site,” said Councilmember Anne Barrington. “The fact that it’s been vacant for 16 years, the market has spoken.”
If Ryan Companies decides to proceed, they will need to obtain plat and site approval from the town for the project after they have planned and designed it.