Assisted living facility approved
Marion Planning Commission approved, 7-0, both a preliminary and a final plat for an assisted living facility, at its May 19 meeting.
The assisted living facility will be built at 200 Eisenhower Drive. A zoning change for five acres at the site, from agricultural to medium-density residential, also received unanimous, 7-0, approval from the commission.
The five acres were annexed by the City of Marion in August after being purchased by Marion Investments LLC for the purpose of building an assisted living facility and independent housing.
A conditional-use permit for construction of residential storage units at the site also was approved 7-0.
All applications were submitted by Marion Assisted Living, LLC, and Bob Brooks, of Brooks Development.
Susan Cooper, representing the City of Marion, said notices were mailed to all landowners within 200 feet of the proposed site within the city limits and within 1,000 feet outside the city limits.
Cooper said she had received no calls or correspondence indicating opposition to these applications.
Brooks proposes to build an 18-unit assisted living facility and perhaps as many as seven independently-owned homes on the five acres.
There are local investors in the project, and Brooks also is applying for an industrial revenue bond issuance by the City.
There would be two types of AL apartments: A standard apartment of 356 square feet will rent for an average of $2,000 per month, and a deluxe apartment of 408 square feet will cost an average of $2,500 per month, depending on level of care needed.
All apartments will have natural lighting — outside windows located in the living room and bedroom. Each apartment will have its own individual heating and air conditioning units.
Three levels of care will be offered, with numerous amenities including three meals daily, housekeeping including laundry, dispensing of medication, and assistance with the activities of daily living (grooming, dressing, etc.)
There will be a community living room, dining room, activity room, and beauty shop. There also will be a tornado shelter in the building.
There will be at least seven full-time employees hired and numerous part-time employees, adding up to an annual payroll of more than $250,000.
The independently-owned homes will be located near the assisted living facility, where the house resident can purchase meals at the facility.
A maintenance contract will be offered where yard work and home repairs will be made by the maintenance provider.
Brooks said he has developed 10 other projects like this one, including one at Newton on which construction has begun.
He said he was confident that the Marion community and county can support this project and was eager to get it completed.
Brooks expects construction to begin within 60 to 90 days, depending on sale of the bonds.
The storage units will be available for residents of the AL facility and of the independent homes, but if there is open space available, those units could be rented to members of the community for residential storage.
Planning commissioners voiced some concerns about what would be allowed to be stored. After discussion, they were assured that the units would be used only for residential storage and would not be designed for other uses.
