Commission backs Hillman Farm senior living site plan, adds condition to build concrete trail

The Planning & Zoning Commission recommended approval to city council of a senior living project at 1311 Governors Run Court (the Village at Hillman Farm). The developer proposes a roughly 49,000 sq ft, three‑story building with 42 independent living units (39 two‑bedroom units and 3 one‑bedroom units), a perimeter walking trail, gazebo and increased parking.

Jeff Simmons with Bax Engineering said the project was a scaled‑down version of a prior submission and that the applicant will construct the south access road to city standards. Staff recommended the conditional use permit and the preliminary plat; staff also requested the rear drive be a thicker concrete section and that the 10‑ft trail along Mexico Road be concrete. The commission’s motions approved the conditional use recommendation, the preliminary plat and the site plan; on the site plan approval the commission added the explicit condition that the trail be built of concrete. Public commenter Arnie Deenoff urged the commission and later the state to deny tax credits for the project and requested stronger landscape buffering between the development and neighboring homes. The developer said tax‑credit decisions are made later in the process and that approval by the city strengthens the application to the state.