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Planning board recommends approval for 32‑unit senior housing at Riverstone Commercial Park
Summary
The Kankakee City Planning Board recommended approval of a conditional use permit for a three‑story, 32‑unit senior housing building at Lot 5 in Riverstone Commercial Park; the board attached standard site‑plan and licensing conditions and will forward the case to city council on May 4.
Roger Brown, president of New Directions Housing Corporation, presented a proposal for a three‑story senior housing building of 32 units on a vacant lot in the Riverstone Commercial Park near Walmart and Dollar General. “This project here that we're proposing is 32 units of senior housing,” Brown said, describing 22 one‑bedroom and 10 two‑bedroom units, a management office, community and exercise rooms, laundry facilities and on‑site parking.
Brown said the site is roughly three acres in Riverstone Parkway commercial subdivision and that the development would meet parking requirements without variances; he stated the site plan shows about 40 parking stalls, roughly one stall per unit, with additional stalls for staff and visitors. The project targets residents 62 and older; Brown said rents “range from about $325 a month … up to about $1,200” for the larger two‑bedroom units, and that residents will pay electricity while the development will cover water, trash and sewer.
Planning staff recommended approval subject to standard conditions: submission of final site plans and building permits for review by building, fire, environmental services, utilities, planning and engineering; compliance with Kankakee County Health Department requirements; a landscape plan meeting code; acquisition of a city business license before operation; and screening of dumpsters. Staff also noted the proposal aligns with the city's comprehensive plan goals to expand housing options for seniors and to provide transitions between commercial and residential areas.
Commissioners asked about accessible parking counts, elevator and stair locations (Brown said there will be one central elevator and stairwells at each end), energy measures (Brown said the project will pursue high‑efficiency equipment but rooftop solar was not cost‑effective for the building scale) and marketing plans (Brown said leasing will be handled by the management company with outreach to senior centers and local advertising).
Commissioner Chip Rom moved to recommend approval of Case PB2026‑3‑1; Jose Aruro Barahas seconded. The roll call vote recorded Barry McCracken, Deb Terrell, Jose Aruro Barahas, Chip Rom and Beverly Hood as voting in favor; the motion passed. Planning staff said the item will appear on the Kankakee City Council agenda on May 4.
Next steps: the developer said it has applied to the Illinois Housing Development Authority for financing and expects an answer in one to two months; if financing is approved, Brown said the team would complete full plans and permitting with a possible groundbreaking in 2027 and lease‑up in early 2028.
