Construction of new assisted-living facility on Elm Street is moving forward after the Bradford Zoning Hearing Board approved variances on Monday.
The Evergreen Elm Inc. home burned down last year, and now officials are hoping to start rebuilding in the next few weeks. The organization provides quality living arrangements and life programs for mentally challenged and intellectually disabled adults.
“We are so excited,” organization executive director Debbie Price said after the zoning public hearing. She said that the The Benton House residents, who are like family, had to be split up to other area low-income housing following the fire that destroyed the home last April.
Later this year, they are expected to be reunited at 2-8 Elm St.
Plans call for two lots to be used to build a home that would accommodate 15 beds, with work expected to begin in April or early May, Price said. The previous home held 12 beds.
She said she hopes that residents would be able to move in before the snow flies later this year.
All told, the project is expected to cost $100,000, according to paperwork given out at the zoning public hearing. The site would be almost like two facilities — for residents and for Evergreen Elm administration, said Curt Wallace of CJ Wallace Engineering LLC of Bradford.
The new building would also be handicap-accessible, Price said.
During the meeting, city zoning officials lauded the design of the building. Though the project’s design was praised, there were some hefty hurdles to jump through.
The variance request stated that the minimum rear yard width is 7.8 feet and that the assisted-living facility is listed as 0.54 acre; there is no buffer area along the eastern property lines because of an existing driveway; there is a minimum width of a two-way driveway for the proposed land use of 10.5 feet; and there is no setback for the driveway adjoining the R-1 (residential) parcel and providing access to the parking area with more than five spaces.
The layout of the proposed development has been designed to improve on and put forward the best use of the previously developed parts of the property, reads a letter submitted to the city from Randy Stroup, project engineer for CJ Wallace Engineering. The lot is an irregular shape, and there are steep slopes.
“Because of such pre-existing improvements, physical circumstances or conditions, there is no possibility that the property can be developed in strict conformity with the provisions of the Zoning Ordinance and authorization of the requested area variance is therefore necessary to enable the reasonable use of the property,” the letter states.
Fortunately, earlier this month, the Bradford City Planning Commission approved a subdivision and a land development plan contingent on setback requirements and zoning approval.
City Zoning Officer John Peterson said he has had no inquiries from anyone about the project.
