Lafayette design panel questions scale, density of proposed 120‑unit senior living complex

Lafayette 'At a Oct. 27 study session, city staff and an applicant team presented a proposal for a three‑story, 120‑unit senior residential building on four contiguous parcels at the Eileen/Stewart site. Arlie Castell, the project planner, told the Design Review Commission the packet is preliminary and "a study session does not include a formal action." The project as presented would include 89 assisted‑living units, 31 memory‑care units, a subterranean garage and substantial regrading.

The property spans roughly 53,058 square feet (1.22 acres) and was rezoned under Lafayette's housing element to C‑160 (East End Commercial‑60), Castell said. The applicant's materials note about 24,000 cubic yards of cut are proposed to create a subsurface parking garage below three levels of living units; the applicant's package also includes a nine‑year‑old arborist report cataloging 60 trees on or adjacent to the site, 55 of which the submittal identified for removal.

The project team explained programmatic choices. Architect Aaron Clark said memory‑care units would be secured…