Plan revised for Lake Zurich senior complex
Plans for a 120-unit senior apartment complex on Lake Zurich's north side have been revised to address noise and other concerns from residents in a neighboring subdivision.
Robert Helle, an executive with Des Plaines-based Pathway Senior Living, outlined the revisions at a recent Lake Zurich plan commission meeting. The three-story facility would be on part of six acres at Rand Road and Samantha Lane, north of Route 22.
Village officials allowed Pathway to return to the drawing board in December after company representatives cited an inability to strike an agreement with an adjacent property owner so an emergency access road could be built for the proposed building. Pathway had wanted property owned by the developer of the Flint Crossing townhouse subdivision.
Helle said the revised plan won't require Flint Crossing's cooperation for the access road and that it addresses neighborhood concerns, such as noise and the assisted-living facility's appearance. Helle said the building would be repositioned on the six acres in a way to add noise protection from a trash enclosure, service entrance and generator.
"We're now out of the line of sight of the neighbors," Helle told plan commission members.
Members of the advisory plan commission gave a thumbs-up to Pathway's redone proposal, which will go before the Lake Zurich village board for a vote. Village Planner Sam Hubbard said it's recommended Pathway maintain the access road in perpetuity for emergency vehicles to reach Flint Crossing as one condition of final approval.
"I think the applicant (Pathway) was able to receive our feedback and make revisions to address many of the concerns," Hubbard said.
If constructed, Pathway's Lake Zurich facility would be all one-bedroom apartments and include 24-hour-a-day nurses, housekeeping and social programs. The facility would classify as affordable under federal and state regulations, meaning 25 percent of the 120 units would be rented to people with annual incomes of $26,000 or less.
Pathway has operations across the Chicago area, including the 231-unit Victory Centre of Vernon Hills on Phillip Road. Pathway opened in Vernon Hills in 2009 after village officials cited a need for affordable senior housing.