Developer presents 77‑unit active‑adult proposal; Wildwood committee raises traffic and scale concerns

Wildwood’s Development and Zoning Review Committee heard a preliminary concept plan Sept. 22 for a 77‑unit, three‑story active‑adult (senior independent living) rental building on a site near Manchester Road in the city of Wildwood.

The presentation was given by Mr. Trimble, the project applicant, and introduced by Department of Planning staff. Mr. Trimble said the proposal is “a 77 unit 3 story active adult,” characterized as senior independent living with no assisted‑living or memory‑care services. He told the committee the project would include underground parking, a dining facility and housekeeping services for residents and that unit sizes would range from roughly 750 to 1,500 square feet. Trimble said the development is planned as rentals and that target monthly rents are in the $4,500 to $7,000 range; he also gave a construction budget figure of $28,000,000 and said the team plans to donate the historic Route 66 alignment and adjacent land west to the church property line to the city.

City planning staff told the committee they had provided a packet of background materials including the committee bylaws, aerial photographs, the town‑center regulating plan, permitted uses and the city’s design and architectural guidelines. Staff noted this was the fourth development and zoning review meeting for the site, with prior concept reviews in 2017 (same applicant), 2021 (different applicant, multifamily concept) and 2024 (same applicant).

Committee members focused questions and comments on vehicle access, neighborhood compatibility and how the proposal compares with past concepts. Council member Galani asked whether units would be sold or rented; Trimble replied, “This is purely rental.” Mayor Garretano strongly opposed the plan as presented, saying it repeated a past submission and asserting the developer had not taken earlier feedback into account: “I oppose this plan the way it is… I feel like you didn't take our… feedback into consideration.” Garretano also raised concerns about the proposed entrance aligning with a busy intersection and about potential impacts to property values across Manchester Road.

Trimble replied that the current concept is substantially reduced from an earlier 180‑unit plan and that omitting assisted‑living and memory‑care components reduces expected traffic and emergency calls. He said topography constrained other design options and that the team had tried alternate layouts, including villas and townhouses, but that construction costs and site conditions made those options infeasible.

Planning and public‑works staff reiterated standard access guidance for arterial roads: aligning entrances with opposite access points is typically preferred for safety. A staff member also observed that commercial development under current zoning could generate more traffic than a senior housing use.

No formal action or vote was taken on the proposal; the meeting was an informal opportunity for the applicant to receive early feedback. The committee closed the meeting after the discussion; a routine motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Marshall and seconded by Councilman Galani and approved.

Next steps described during the meeting: the applicant may pursue a regulating‑plan change and rezoning as part of a formal submission to the city’s Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council; committee feedback at this stage is advisory and not determinative.