Senior living special planning district goes in front of Brunswick Planning Commission for a third version of the plan

BRUNSWICK — Brunswick Planning Commission reviewed the third version of the plan for a senior living special planning district, which now only features single-story villas, at its meeting Thursday. The long and narrow piece of property, which stretches from the water towers to Alice Avenue and Ganyard Avenue, was first approved as a special planning district in 2019. A company called Sanctus was the applicant. Dave Baylis from Briar Hill Development said his company, under a different name, later took over the project. Planning Commission recommended Brunswick City Council approve the second version of the plan for the special planning district in January 2023, but the company decided to not move forward yet. Baylis said the company he works for is now back with a third version of the plan for the property. The second plan had 40 attached senior housing units and a three-story, 94-unit assisted living, skilled nursing, memory care and congregate care facility. The newest plan comprises 86 units across 18 single-story buildings to function as an "active adult" community. He said active adults are older adults who are looking for socialization and community. Members of the planning commission questioned if the new plan would still be considered a special planning district because it no longer has a mixed-use design. "If we want to continue treating this property as a (special planning district) five, then we have significant work to do on design guidelines because (special planning districts) in this community are unique," Chairman Joe Shirilla said. "What I see is 86 single-family homes that are around 1,200 square feet, that are all shared under one roof with minimal curb appeal." Special planning districts allow areas to have more-compatible uses and more flexible and creative design than traditional zoning districts. Planning Commission encouraged the applicant to hire a consultant to drill down why the special planning district is still needed for the new plan. "I personally would like to see that individual brought into the mix to take your new business plan and apply the (special planning district) standard and then come up with some design guidelines," Shirilla said. "If we don't do that, I think we're going to just keep going on, and we're going forward and backward." Planning Commission tabled the project on Thursday. Contact reporter Madisyn Woodring at (330) 721-4049 or mwoodring@medina-gazette.com.