The senior housing developer with plans to build a 90-unit assisted living and memory care facility at the Young’s Nursery property on Danbury Rd. is hoping Wilton’s land use commissions will approve their application quickly enough to allow construction to start in the fall.
At its last meeting (Wednesday, April 12), the Planning & Zoning Commission accepted an application from Senior Living Development, LLC, (SLD) of Fairfield, for a 75,972-square foot, three-story building on 3.8 acres at 211 Danbury Rd., the site of Young’s Nursery property at the corner of Rte. 7 and Orem’s Ln..
Also last week, the Inland Wetlands Commission agreed to put the developer’s permit application on the agenda for its next meeting, scheduled for Thursday, April 27.
Plans for the assisted living and memory care community feature fine dining, a bistro, a salon, and fitness and other activity areas, all set on a fully landscaped site with gardens, walking paths and sitting areas. According to a press release from SLD, “Particular attention has been paid to buffering of the Orem’s Lane neighborhood with dense landscaping.”
Mark De Pecol, a principal with SLD, says the neighbors on nearby Orem’s Ln. were top of mind–which is likely the reason why they’ve been vocal in support of the project at P&Z meetings. “The neighbors are always our concern when planning a new community. We encourage interaction so they are comfortable with the project,” he notes.
Neighbors spoke at public hearings last fall, and SLD was active in helping convince P&Z commissioners to amend town regulations, allowing a higher density for assisted living developments. SLD’s press release says that the proposed project “meets all zoning requirements under the Special Permit regulations, including a 10% affordable component.”
Moreover, SLD says there are no wetlands on the site and the improvements will help area flooding by reducing water runoff by 60%.
If the project is approved by this summer, SLD says construction could start in the fall.
What the Development will Look Like
Senior Living Development also released a more detailed rendering of what the project will look like. Per the press release, the building’s architecture will feature elements common to Wilton’s New England vernacular using elements of stonework, colors and forms to break down the scale of the structure to relate to its residential surroundings.
“The assisted living community will be an integral part of the greater community and should reflect that in the architecture. This is a peaceful, tranquil place and its graceful architecture and landscaping reflects that style,” says De Pecol.
SLD estimates that the project will generate between 100-150 construction jobs and 60-70 full time equivalent jobs, and is expected to produce “substantial tax revenues to the town with minimal town services.” It will be operated by Sunrise Senior Living.
The developer also says that an extensive traffic report was completed, showing a nominal traffic impact from this project–something SLD attributes to the fact that most of the residents will not drive. Additionally, personnel shifts will be staggered to avoid rush hours. The project will not have skilled nursing and ambulance visits typically average 4-6 per month.
“This is a place where our parents and grandparents can age gracefully with needed assistance. Instead of possibly being secluded in their home or apartment, the residents can interact with others, enjoy fine dining and activities and get the services they need such as medication delivery, housekeeping, and personal services,” according to De Pecol.
Senior Living Development, LLC has a solid track record for getting assisted living facilities approved–in the past three years they have received approvals for four different assisted living developments and currently has three more in the approval process.
Update: The article was amended to reflect that the building size will be 75,972 sq. ft., rather than the 65,000 sq. ft. that was originally listed in the developer’s press release.