City planning staff updated commissioners on the Harrison Manor senior housing project, saying the developer received administrative preliminary site-plan approval needed to apply for funding but has not yet learned whether MSHDA credits or other financing were awarded. Staff said the preliminary approval was granted so the applicant could seek funding; if funding is secured the developer must submit a formal site-plan application that will come before the commission for review and any required public notice.

Commissioners sought clarification about property ownership and title. Staff said Covenant provided properties for the project and the developer intends to purchase those lots from Covenant, but assessor records in some cases list holding companies as titleholders. Commissioners asked staff to verify ownership records; staff replied ownership questions would be a private land transaction between entities and would not necessarily affect site-plan review but that staff would clarify title information for the record.

The commission also asked when neighbors would receive notice. Staff explained that because the approval to date is a preliminary administrative approval for a permitted use, formal neighborhood notice is not required at that stage; neighborhood notifications would be part of a formal site-plan process if and when the developer submits one. No action was taken on Harrison Manor at this meeting; the item was informational pending the developer’s funding decision and any subsequent formal filings.