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Developer seeks narrow moratorium exception to reopen former nursing home as senior living
Summary
Developer Brandon Roers asked the council to consider a narrowly drafted amendment to a current moratorium to permit re‑opening a former nursing home as a senior living facility; councilmembers said they would consider a narrowly tailored exception when the moratorium extension returns to the body on July 6.
Brandon Roers, a local developer, told the council on June 1 that he intends to close on a purchase of a former nursing‑home property and is seeking the council’s support for a narrowly framed amendment to an existing moratorium so he can reestablish the property as a senior living facility.
Town staff said the town attorney advised that the current moratorium language is broad and that a narrowly drafted amendment limited to the specific senior‑living use would be the appropriate mechanism if the council wished to allow this single, defined project while the broader moratorium remains in effect.
Councilmembers expressed mixed views. Several members said they would support an exception narrowly limited to a nursing/senior living reuse that aligns with the town’s comprehensive plan; others raised procedural concerns about setting a precedent for exceptions to moratoria in the future and asked that any amendment be carefully written to avoid unintended consequences.
The council did not act on the request at the June 1 meeting. Staff said the moratorium extension and any proposed amendment will return to the council on July 6 for a formal vote and that the town attorney will prepare language to allow only the specified senior‑living use if the council so directs.
Roers asserted the proposed use would not create additional burdens on town general assistance programs and said his intent is to restore the property to a use similar to its prior function.
