Transitional Care wins preliminary approval in Arlington Hts.

The Arlington Heights village board Monday gave preliminary approval for rezoning for a short-term rehabilitation facility on property where AT&T formerly had offices at 1200 N. Arlington Heights Road.

More than 100 people attended the meeting, with 20 speaking against the rezoning and nine in favor of allowing Transitional Care Management to build the 120-bed facility on the 4-acre site.

Village President Arlene Mulder and Trustee Joseph Farwell called the facility an important part of the future of rapidly changing health care.

Opponents included neighbors of the property as well as management and staff of Lutheran Home, a care facility, and residents of Luther Village, where residents own their homes and say harm to the nursing home would hurt their property values.

“It is tempting to have Transitional Care real estate tax be a major consideration in your decision,” said Jean Wood, a resident of Luther Village. “Please keep in mind the fact that collectively, the residents of Luther Village pay approximately $3 million in real estate taxes.“

Two trustees, Thomas Glasgow and Bert Rosenberg, recused themselves because of relationships with firms involved with the project or the Lutheran Life Communities.

Due to an official protest filed, the project needed six votes from among the remaining six trustees and Mayor Arlene Mulder, said Jack Siegel, village attorney, and the vote was 7-0.

The Illinois Health Facilities Service and Review Board issued a certificate this summer saying the project is needed.

Opponents disputed this, saying the project would hurt Lutheran Home and three other care facilities in the village, which also offer transitional care and are not full. Other concerns were parking and traffic, especially if shifts change at 3 p.m. when nearby schools let out.

Several speakers, including trustees, said they or their friends or relatives had distaste for going to a traditional nursing home for short-term care.

Mary Jo Zeller of Mount Prospect, who works for Lutheran Services and was the first director of Arlington Heights' senior center, said the desire to avoid treatment with old people smacked of ageism.

A few people said they work with people leaving hospitals, and finding room in an appropriate facility in the village is difficult.