Separate hearings set on eldercare zoning amendments,
traffic-calming policy
The Town Council will hold a public hearing on two proposed changes to the
Zoning Ordinance that will allow construction and renovation of the former
Viking Nursing Home into a similar use as assisted-living and independent-living
apartments.
At their meeting March 5, the council referred a pair of "eldercare" zoning
amendments to its ordinance subcommittee, and scheduled a public hearing
for April 9.
The Planning Board had unanimously recommended approval of the proposed changes
after a public hearing in February.
The new developer, Canyon Creek Development of Oregon, is seeking to redevelop
one of the existing Viking Nursing Home buildings on Scott Dyer Road into
55 assisted-living units for the elderly. An older portion of the Viking,
built as a nursing facility in the 1970s, would be torn down and replaced
with 40 independent-living apartments.
The proposed ordinance amendments would increase the density allowed for
eldercare beds and units in the Residence C District; and, increase the allowable
area that a building existing within 250 feet of a critical wetland can be
expanded.
Because the developer would like to begin construction in the 2007 calendar
year, the council directed the ordinance committee to report on the draft
amendments by the council's April meeting, at which time a public hearing
will be held.
If the changes are approved by the council, site plans and associated studies
will then go back to the Planning Board for review and public hearings before
construction on the new eldercare facility can begin.
Hearing April 9 on Traffic Calming policy
Also at their meeting April 9, the council will hold a public hearing on
a new proposed
traffic-calming policy.
The policy is one of three tasks identified by the Traffic Calming/Road Safety
Working Group, which has been working since last April to address the need
for road safety in Cape Elizabeth.
The draft policy provides citizens a procedure for requesting traffic-calming
measures in their neighborhood, and outlines methods for identifying, evaluating
and addressing undesirable traffic conditions.
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