Plan Commission advances Agrace's Dementia Village plan with conditions

The Fitchburg Plan Commission on July 21 approved Agrace's phase‑2 rezone and Architectural/Design Review (ADR) for a redevelopment that staff described as a Dementia Village — an assisted‑living and memory‑care campus modeled on a Dutch village concept.

Staff summarized the phase‑2 scope: a 64‑bed licensed community‑based residential facility for assisted living and memory care, adult day care operations, and eight studio apartments dedicated to employee housing. “Phase 1 included a reconfiguration of the existing hospice care area of the facility… Phase 2 allows further additions and renovations for the campus, which include a 64 bed licensed community based residential facility,” staff said.

The Dementia Village will be organized into West, Central and East neighborhoods with houses, courtyards and a clubhouse. Staff noted landscaping updates aimed at adding native tree species and outlined tree‑survey revisions: phase‑1 removals revised from 20 to 21 trees (8‑inch diameter) and phase‑2 revisions from 66 to 73 trees. The applicant's materials also show a generator planned in an enclosure; staff recorded that the generator will emit 72 decibels at 23 feet and must be managed under conditions to limit impacts on residential areas.

Project timeline and next steps Agrace representatives told the commission that phase 1 construction is underway and is slated to be finished this October, at which time residents will shift into new hospice additions and the east side of the campus will be cleared for demolition and phase‑2 site work. The applicant and staff estimated phase‑2 completion around fall 2027. Developer/agent Duane Helwig said work would begin on site work in late September, contingent on bid awards and permitting.

What commissioners requested Commissioners pressed staff and the applicant for final photometric (lighting) plans, exterior materials and more detailed tree‑preservation documentation. Staff recommended approval with conditions and the ADR passed with the reduced set of conditions; staff corrected a duplicate condition before the vote.

Why it matters Agrace's Dementia Village would create a purpose‑built care environment that changes how memory care is organized on the campus and adds employee housing units. The commission's approval moves the project through the local land‑use process but leaves several technical items to be resolved before full building permits are issued.

Next procedural step The commission approved the rezone and ADR with conditions. Applicants must submit final lighting plans and exterior material specifications for zoning administrator approval and satisfy tree preservation and landscaping conditions before full permits are issued.