Developer outlines revised Forest Glen continuing-care plan with cottages and lodges

President Terry Counley presented a revised development concept for the Forest Glen property in McCullom Lake, saying the project has been retooled as a continuing-care retirement community (CCRC) that would combine independent living cottages with assisted- and memory-care lodges.

Counley said consultants and experienced operators advised that the original plan — described in the record as a nine-lodge assisted- and memory-care configuration — would have required an estimated 250 staff and posed long-term staffing challenges. To reduce reliance on full-time staffing and improve operational sustainability, the revised plan would add independent living units and partner with in-home care providers. "The cottages will be called The Cottages of Forest Glen, which are the independent living buildings and the assisted living will be called The Lodges of Forest Glen," Counley said.

Under the plan described to the board, the proposal would include 10 independent-living cottages intended for residents 55 and older (each cottage to house between one and four people), two assisted-living lodges and four memory-care lodges. Counley said the redesign does not increase the project's total resident capacity but reduces full-time staffing needs by enabling in-home care partnerships and allowing residents to age in place.

Trustee Zakrocky asked whether developer Ben Valletta would both develop and operate the property and whether he was qualified to run it. "Mr. Valletta is developing this property, is he running it?" Zakrocky asked. Counley and Deputy Clerk Prehn said Valletta would run the property and that he has prior projects and local partners; Counley encouraged trustees to submit questions in advance for Valletta's presentation at the March meeting.

Counley said the village was advised that a Planned Unit Development (PUD) is the preferred regulatory path for the site and that the draft PUD documents and preliminary architectural and engineering plans had been provided to the board. The presentation emphasized potential benefits for McCullom Lake including increased tax revenue, local employment and support for surrounding property values.

The board did not vote on the proposal at the Feb. 24 meeting. Valletta is scheduled to attend the March board meeting to answer trustee questions and provide an update.