Clearwater board recommends land‑use change to allow Lantern Senior Care to seek up to 18 beds

The Clearwater Community Development Board voted March 17 to recommend that city council approve a future land‑use map amendment (LUP2025-11004) that would permit the assisted‑living facility at 246 Nursery Road to increase its potential licensed capacity to 18 beds.

Staff presented the proposal and recommended approval, saying the 10.4‑acre property’s request to change its designation from Residential Urban (7.5 dwelling units per acre) to Residential Medium (15 DU/acre) is consistent with the community development code and the city’s comprehensive plan. Adrien Young of planning staff described staff’s finding that the amendment would allow an increase in bed count (staff described the conversion used for assisted‑living licensing as three beds equaling one dwelling unit) and would not, in staff’s view, degrade public facilities for potable water, sanitary wastewater, solid waste, parkland, stormwater or streets.

Mercy Denmark, long‑range planning manager, told the board that this action is a map amendment only: "At this stage it's a land use plan amendment to change the map. They may choose to make changes to their building in the future through a permitting process," she said, adding that any future physical changes would require permitting and separate approvals.

The facility’s administrator, recorded in the hearing record as Arent Ferv Ewig J., said Lantern Senior Care currently holds a license for 12 beds (which the applicant described as a legally grandfathered, nonconforming use) and seeks authorization to allow up to 18 beds. "We have a license for 12 beds which is already above the allowed usage because it was grandfathered in from the past," the administrator said, adding that the current building could accommodate the additional beds and that Lantern has dedicated staff and community connections, including a permaculture garden the facility operates.

The applicant read a letter from Andrea Morrow of the Clearwater Effect Team in support of the expansion, which described the facility as a reliable placement option for people with serious mental‑health needs and said additional beds would help meet local demand.

Several nearby residents urged the board to recommend denial. Mark Bireneaum said he was submitting a petition signed by 16 nearby residents opposing what he referred to as "ordinance 986425" and asked the board to reject the change. Barbara Bernom described what she said were troubling conditions she personally observed at the facility, including a fall victim who "sat on a sofa that smelled of urine," a dated kitchen and general cleanliness and upkeep concerns; she pressed the board for information about ownership, licensing, staffing and payment sources for residents. Another resident, Bill Jones, said a K–12 school across the street generates heavy traffic and asked the board to consider whether the change would add to congestion near students.

In response to operational and safety concerns raised during public comment, the applicant said the facility is inspected by state and local agencies, including health and fire departments, and asserted compliance with regulations. Staff and the chair noted that operational complaints and licensing enforcement are typically handled by state licensing agencies and code enforcement rather than through the land‑use map process.

After discussion, a board member moved to recommend approval of LUP2025-11004 based on the record, staff report and testimony; the motion was seconded and passed. The board recorded that two members voted in opposition. The recommendation now goes to Clearwater City Council, which makes the final decision on map amendments.

The board completed its agenda with a director’s report and the annual election of officers; the chair and vice chair were re‑elected for another year and the meeting was adjourned.

Next steps: the city council will consider the board’s recommendation on LUP2025-11004 at a future meeting; residents and the applicant may provide additional testimony to council or pursue separate licensing or permitting processes as needed.