The Ohman family resurrected plans for 24 independent living units for seniors after two years on the shelf during the June 6 Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
The Ohman family resurrected plans for 24 independent living units for seniors after two years on the shelf during the June 6 Middlefield Village Planning and Zoning Commission meeting.
“COVID slowed us down before,” said Anderson Ohman Jr., who presented the commission with a drawing of eight triplexes planned for more than 4 acres with access off Tare Creek Parkway. The acreage, purchased in 2021, is west of three homes the Ohmans recently renovated on North State Avenue for independent living. Ohman Family Living at Briar is across the street.
“The exterior (of the triplexes) is very similar to what we did along (state Route) 608. You have a nice prototype,” Ohman said.
The 4.22 acres were purchased in 2021 and the updated plan includes eight three-unit townhouses minus the original community center, village Zoning Inspector John Boksansky said last Tuesday.
Each rental unit consists of about 1,300 square feet with two bedrooms, two baths, an open-plan living area, a limited kitchen area, laundry room and a one-and-a-half car garage, said Ohman’s builder, Jeff Craven.
Anderson Ohman Jr. said occupants would have access to an outdoor community area and the recreation facilities at Briar. The Ohmans would provide landscaping, every-other-week housekeeping services and access to two or three meals a day, and residents could visit the main nursing home campus across North State. The rent — in the mid-$3,000-a month range — would include utilities.
The residential planned unit development is limited to seniors age 55 and older, but Anderson Ohman Sr. said occupants are more likely to be age 75 and up.
Mayor Ben Garlich said the pricing is reasonable if it covers utilities.
“It’s good use of that space, for sure,” said Commission Chairman Scott Klein.
On June 8, Middlefield Village Council heard the second reading of two ordinances that would pave the way to grant a special use permit authorizing senior residential uses in the R-PUD zone. A public hearing will be held at the July 13 council meeting after which council is scheduled to act on the legislation.
Although Craven said the Ohmans need a tax abatement to proceed with the project, Garlich said in a follow-up text the acreage on the west side of Old State Avenue doesn’t qualify for an abatement because it is outside the abatement area already in place for the Ohmans.
“We can’t alter the area or we lose our grandfather status,” he said.
