Chester Township Trustees plan to research a nursing home corporation’s request to include congregate care as a permitted use in the commercial district – but some residents say they are not happy with the proposed change.
Chester Township Trustees plan to research a nursing home corporation’s request to include congregate care as a permitted use in the commercial district – but some residents say they are not happy with the proposed change.
Nearly 75 people packed the meeting room at the township zoning commission meeting May 18 to discuss the request.
“We have to accept the application as submitted to us,” said zoning commission Chairman Jonathan Oswick, explaining the board’s process to attendees. “We receive it, review it and provide it to the trustees. We do not hold any power or jurisdiction to make a decision about it.”
Township trustees might send the application to the Geauga County Planning Commission, which would review it and send their comments back to the trustees. Residents may ask questions and express their opinions at a hearing tentatively set for 7 p.m. July 6, Oswick said, after which trustees could vote on changes to the zoning resolution.
Residents at the May 18 zoning commission meeting were encouraged to attend the trustees meeting on May 19, which was held in the fire station bay to accommodate the crowd.
The zoning request comes from Biltmore LLC Ambulatory, of Phoenix, AZ. Since the township does not allow for use variances, the company is requesting a change to allow congregate care in the commercial area, said Trustee Craig Richter May 19.
The property listed near Mayfield and Caves roads is owned by Caves Road, LLC, which lists Thomas Basista as the agent of name.
The company is proposing a 96-bed residential nursing home without rehabilitation or memory care.
At the May 19 meeting, residents voiced concerns about the specific property on Mayfield Road next to Bloom Bros. Enterprises, including water, wastewater and possible protected wetlands on the property.
“Can the sewer lines handle the new strip mall across from McDonald’s and a new congregate care center?” asked resident Janine Haines.
The facility would be using well-water, along with trucking in water to cover the approximately 7,500 gallons they would use per week. They would be connected into the existing sewage system that serves the area, according to the proposal.
General concerns included increased traffic, the possibility of bus lines and the additional burden on township police, fire and rescue resources. Speakers also had concerns about inclusion of other types of congregate living, such as drug rehabilitation centers, half-way houses and Section 8 housing.
Trustee Joe Mazzurco encouraged residents to email their concerns and questions to the trustees.
“I gather information, so any of you that want to get my email, it’s on the township website,” Mazzurco said. “You can send me all the stuff. I would put it on a list of my questions, because before any decisions get made, I’m going to research it myself. You can cc all three of us (the trustees) because all three of us do our own homework.”
Mazzurco said he will investigate what the benefits of congregate housing in the commercial areas might be, stresses that might affect township services and he will contact other communities where Biltmore LLC Ambulatory has facilities.
Residents at both meetings referenced a 2020 community questionnaire conducted by the Cleveland State University Maxine Goodman Levin College of Urban Affairs Center for Community Planning and Development. The questionnaire was sent to over 4,700 households with a return rate of almost 1,700, or 35 percent. According to the survey, respondents were generally older, long-term residents.
During the meeting, those opposed to congregate care zoning in the commercial district cited the questionnaire as proof that residents do not want nursing facilities in the township.
About 43 percent of respondents rated senior skilled nursing and assisted living facilities as either “not desirable” or “strongly not desirable,” and 25 percent responded that these facilities were desired as commercial district development options. About 33 percent were neutral.
However, when asked to rate the importance of expanding senior living housing options in Chester, almost 60 percent responding said this was moderately to extremely important. Only 25 percent responded this was not important at all.
The creators of the questionnaire noted the survey was not statistically valid and that it represented respondents’ opinions only, so the responses should not be described as a representation of the majority.
