Date: Fri 05-Sep-1997

Publication: Bee

Author: ANDYG

Quick Words:

health-assisted-living-Ashlar

Full Text:

P&Z Weighs Ashlar's Rest Home Proposal

B Y A NDREW G OROSKO

Planning and Zoning Commission (P&Z) members are considering a request from

Ashlar of Newtown to build a rest home for the elderly as an addition to its

nursing home on Toddy Hill Road.

Ashlar wants a "special exception" to the zoning regulations to build Lockwood

Lodge, a proposed 48-unit assisted-living apartment complex which would be

connected to Ashlar's existing 156-bed nursing home.

The almost 54,000-square-foot rest home would be in a three-story building

connected to the northern end of the nursing home.

In his review of the development proposal, the fire marshal wrote he would

withhold his approval of the project until the applicant provides an

independently-produced firefighting study. The fire marshal also wants the

applicant to provide fire lanes on the proposed driveway turnaround.

Masonicare has entered into an agreement with a firm to perform a firefighting

study, according to attorney Robert Hall, representing the nursing home.

Mr Hall represents Masonicare, also known as the Masonic Charity Foundation of

Connecticut. Masonicare is the parent organization of Ashlar of Newtown.

Ashlar President Thomas Gutner told P&Z members at a public hearing that

health care is a rapidly changing field. Having a rest home at Ashlar is

intended to limit overall health care costs, he said. The state's population

is aging significantly, he added.

Ashlar wants to build an assisted-living facility, he said, noting that it

would provide more care than is available at an "independent living" facility,

but not as much care as is provided at a "skilled nursing care" facility such

as Ashlar's nursing home.

Residents in assisted-living settings need some help with activities such as

eating, bathing, toileting, and dressing, he said. The compact apartments in

such a facility provide a home-like setting which is less expensive than

nursing home care, he said.

Having an assisted-living complex would allow Ashlar to serve more older

adults and provide a broader range of services, according to Mr Gutner. Such

facilities are cost-effective while providing a safe and secure place to live

for the elderly, he said.

Typical residents of assisted-living facilities are widows or widowers. A

typical resident is an 81- or 82-year-old woman.

Six of the 48 apartments would be larger than the others, allowing double

occupancy in those six units and providing room for up to 54 residents at the

rest home, Mr Hall said.

The project would include a common area linking the rest home to the nursing

home. A new main entrance to the overall complex would be built.

Engineer Larry Edwards, representing Masonicare, said the expansion plans

involve increasing parking spaces from 105 to 172 to meet increased demand.

Similarly, septic waste disposal facilities would be expanded.

The three million gallons of water stored in a pond on the site, plus a

40,000-gallon water storage tank for firefighting would be present, he said.

Traffic Engineer Irving Chann, representing Masonicare, said the residents of

an assisted-living facility rarely would have their own automobiles, with

their transportation being provided by other means. Sixteen new employees

would be hired to staff the facility, he said.

A new facility would generate an additional 100 vehicle trips daily at Ashlar,

according to Mr Chann. If approved, the rest home would be occupied by 1999,

he said, adding that the traffic "level of service" in the area wouldn't be

adversely affected by the presence of a rest home.

But resident Marcus McReedy of 112 Toddy Hill Road expressed concerns over

increased traffic being generated by a rest home. He said sight lines to the

north of the Ashlar driveway pose hazardous conditions for exiting motorists

turning south onto Toddy Hill Road. He suggested the town reduce the posted

speed limit on Toddy Hill Road near Ashlar.

Mr Edwards said the applicants plan to improve sight lines in that area to

improve travel conditions.

Mr Hall told P&Z members the proposed development would be in harmony with the

neighborhood and won't be visible from Toddy Hill Road.

He said nothing comparable to the proposed assisted-living complex exists in

town. There is a need for such a facility and that need will grow in the

future, he said.

Last January, P&Z members approved two zoning amendments sought by Ashlar to

allow it to proceed with planning for the proposed assisted-living complex.

The Ashlar proposal was scheduled for P&Z consideration and possible action at

a September 4 meeting, after the deadline for this edition of The Bee.