City denies assisted-living facility By DREW WINCHESTER Staff Writer NORTH PORT — City commissioners unanimously denied Monday a special exception that would have allowed an assisted-living facility to be built in a residential neighborhood, saying the business would ultimately damage the quality of life in the area. The vote brings an end to a project that has drawn some controversy during its run through the public process, mostly from homeowners and parents in the Blitzen Terrace and Hamwood Street area, who believed it would bring added traffic. Neighbors were also worried the influx of vehicles to the facility would pose a threat to the area children, who are all mostly elementary-age, according to North Port homeowner Edward Kay, who organized a petition to officially oppose the project. “I want my neighborhood to stay intact,” Kay said. “If homes are built in the future, that’s fine, but this doesn’t fit.” Had commissioners approved the special exception, then Paradise Assisted Living, as it was tentatively named by owner-developer Hulda-Rose Gordon, would have been allowed to operate as a commercial business in an area zoned entirely for residential. State statute dictates the exception is allowed if approved by the local governing board. As envisioned by Gordon, plans for Paradise called for it to be built in two phases, the first having 12 rooms and 22 beds, the second adding eight rooms and 12 beds. Paradise planned on serving a total of 36 residents. Gordon said after the vote she now has to figure out what to do with the property, which is made up of eight residential lots, but declined to comment further. She told commissioners during public comment that she promised to be a good neighbor and responsible business owner. She also said that the facility would serve residents living within 20 miles of it, making Paradise a true North Port endeavor. “This neighborhood is in need of the facility,” she said. Commissioners agreed it was a good project, just a bad location. Commissioner Jim Blucher thought the facility was needed not just in North Port, but in all of Southwest Florida — but added that approval of the facility would dramatically change the makeup of the neighborhood. Mayor Linda Yates said approval of the facility would change the “character” of the single family environment so prevalent in that neighborhood, adding, “This is a wonderful project and the need is great, but it’s the wrong area,” City commissioners approved a resolution last month to allow a new 138-bed assisted-living facility to move forward adjacent to South Biscayne Church, allowing developer Omega Communities to take advantage of lower interest rates and tax exemptions on a $29 million bond. The two projects are not connected. Commissioner Tom Jones did not attend the meeting. Email: dwinchester@sun-herald
Posted on: Mon, 10 Jun 2013 20:47:53 +0000
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