Council gives feedback to English Rose proposal for dementia‑care homes at Oak Knoll site

Developer English Rose and the Excelsior Group presented five concept plans on Nov. 10 for redevelopment of the former Oak Knoll Elementary School property at 2000 Hopkins Crossroad into small, residential licensed care homes for people living with dementia. The developer, Joshua Wert, described English Rose’s operating model and staffing: he said their typical caregiver ratio is "1 staff member for every 2 to 3 residents," which the team argues produces higher‑quality, residential‑style care.

Design alternatives and preservation questions: Plans ranged from preserving the 1920 portion of the school building to removing it and introducing two or three single‑story 7,000–8,000 square‑foot ‘‘home’’ buildings. Developers reported a community meeting and Planning Commission review that favored the smaller 2–3 home concepts and encouraged retention or commemoration of the historic building where feasible. Staff cautioned that reuse of the existing structure would require substantial renovation for ADA compliance and that compatible uses (adult day program, daycare) tested poorly against parking and operating‑cost constraints.

Council concerns and guidance: Councilmembers asked for more information on tree impacts, stormwater, traffic on Hopkins Crossroad, and options to preserve the building fabric or reuse materials. Several members expressed a strong preference for exploring preservation options if financially feasible; others emphasized avoiding design requirements that would scuttle the project. Several members also raised affordability concerns and asked whether the English Rose model could accommodate lower‑income residents or staff housing — developers said Medicaid certification and making rooms Medicaid‑eligible would alter staffing and operating models and create licensing and funding challenges.

Next steps: No formal votes were required at concept review. Staff will accept the council’s guidance, continue review if the developer seeks formal application(s) (subdivision and conditional‑use permit for licensed care facilities in R‑1), and return with detailed analyses when a formal development application is filed.