Council approves 42-acre BPUD for senior living and medical campus after lengthy public debate over wetlands and flooding

Developers proposed Edgewater Villages, a multi-phase business PUD with independent-living apartments (272 units), villas (45), assisted-living/memory-care beds and medical/urgent-care components intended to supply senior housing and local jobs. Planning staff described setbacks, buffers and a natural landscape buffer that cannot be cleared; the applicant said many jobs and minimal school impacts were expected.

Resident speakers flooded the podium with objections focused on hydrology, wetlands loss and recent flood experience. "I flooded for the first time in 35 years," one resident said, and many urged denial or delay until more thorough environmental and traffic studies were provided. Applicant representatives, including Joe Byrne and Joe Jasmine, emphasized senior care benefits and local job creation and said engineering and stormwater plans would meet the city’s updated standards. After extended debate about comp‑plan entitlements, legal risk and infrastructure, council approved the rezoning on a 3–2 vote (Mayor DePoe and Councilwoman Gillis opposed).