The operators of the Springbrook Nursing Care Center on Spring Street have annpunced plans to build a retirement community and assisted living home with nearly 200 units on land adjacent to their existing operations.
The operator, Sandy River Health Systems, has asked the city to rezone – from rural to residential growth area 1 – 53 acres it has an option to acquire from the Animal Refuge League. The zone change is necessary, Sandy River officials said, because the current zoning allows for about one unit per acre, which does not allow for enough housing to make the project worthwhile.
Daniel Maguire, one of Sandy River’s owners, said once the project is completely built out, it will bring about 40 new jobs to the city and would also bring in significant tax money. The project would consist of about 90 two- and three-bedroom cottages and 80 independent living apartments.
Unlike other housing developments, where the city has to provide more services to residents, primarily through having more children in school, City Administrator Jerre Bryant said the Sandy River plan would bring in more in taxes than it would cost the city because the residents are older and would not have school-age children.
“This project will generate more income from property taxes than it demands in city services,” said Bryant.
The City Council tabled the matter of the zone change in August, primarily due to concerns over traffic on Spring Street. The council’s Economic and Community Development Committee discussed the issue Monday night.
Most of the discussion at the meeting revolved around a recommendation by city staff that the project include a public road that would provide a cut-through between Stroudwater and Spring streets. Sandy River originally proposed the project with the Stroudwater Street access blocked off, for use by emergency vehicles only. However, the company has indicated it would be willing to include the cut-through road into the project.
City Planner Brooks More said the cut through road would provide some traffic relief to the neighboring roads, because it would provide drivers with alternate routes rather than just funneling all of the traffic from the retirement community onto one street. The road would also provide more routes for emergency traffic to get in and out of the retirement community, said More.
Councilors said they had some concerns about approving a project that would add any more traffic to Spring Street, a place that is already choked with traffic. Residents backed up those concerns. “I think traffic is a big issue,” said Leona Glidden of Spring Street. “If you go adding any more cars onto Spring Street, we are going to have a big problem.”
The committee took no action on the proposal Monday night, but the first vote on the zone change will be on the City Council’s agenda at its next regular meeting on Nov. 7 at 7 p.m. in room 114 of Westbrook High School.
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