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Commissioners favor L‑shaped layout and conditional use path for 32‑unit Sweet Living assisted‑living concept
Summary
Hampton Companies presented a 32‑unit assisted‑living concept on 2.87 acres at Balsam Lane and Dayton River Road. Commissioners generally preferred the L‑shaped layout for frontage and circulation and expressed a preference for handling assisted‑living as a conditional use to allow site‑specific conditions and parking adjustments.
Hampton Companies presented a concept for a 32‑unit Sweet Living assisted‑living facility on Dec. 3, seeking feedback on two configurations for a 2.87‑acre site at Balsam Lane North and Dayton River Road.
Dan Brown, representing Hampton Companies, described the product as "low impact" and said the firm operates more than 20 similar facilities in the region. "Our residents don't drive, but we do have on average six to eight employees at a time," Brown said, noting visitor traffic is limited compared with multifamily housing.
Staff explained that the GMU4 (Balsam Lane mixed‑use) district currently does not list assisted‑living/memory care as a permitted use; allowing the Sweet Living project would therefore require either a text amendment to include the use in GMU4 or rezoning to a commercial district that allows the use, or proceeding via a conditional‑use permit. Staff also flagged frontage/setback rules and parking standards (assisted‑living parking at 0.5 spaces/unit, requiring roughly 16 spaces) that affect the two concept layouts. The applicant’s preliminary plan showed 25 spaces.
Commissioners generally preferred the L‑shaped (concept B) layout because it better meets the district’s building‑frontage expectation along Balsam and provides improved pickup/drop‑off and circulation, including safer emergency access. Several members recommended the conditional‑use route so the commission and council could place conditions (for example, additional parking for staff, landscape buffering, lighting and mechanical screening) rather than rezoning the parcel outright.
Neighbors asked questions about sight lines and intersection safety on Dayton River Road; staff said sight‑line and median modifications would be coordinated with the county where necessary and that engineering review would occur at site‑plan stage.
Next steps: the applicant will refine the layout and work with staff to resolve parking, access and architectural details; the planning commission indicated the CUP process would be a reasonable path if the council wishes to retain review authority over operational conditions.
